The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with its Cambodian member organizations ADHOC and LICADHO, writes the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parlimentary Union (IPU) to welcome and comment on the resolution of IPU on Mr. Cheam Channy, Member of National Assembly of Cambodia, adopted on October 19, 2005. FORUM-ASIA also calls the Committee's attention to continuing human rights violations of Members of Parliament of Cambodia.The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with its Cambodian member organizations ADHOC and LICADHO, writes the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parlimentary Union (IPU) to welcome and comment on the resolution of IPU on Mr. Cheam Channy, Member of National Assembly of Cambodia, adopted on October 19, 2005. FORUM-ASIA also calls the Committee's attention to continuing human rights violations of Members of Parliament of Cambodia.
ADHOC, LICADHO and FORUM-ASIA write:
"The conviction of parliamentarian Mr. Cheam Channy, and the prosecutions of Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Chea Poch for criminal defamation, has grave consequences for parliamentary democracy and freedom of expression in Cambodia. Mr. Cheam Channy continues to be arbitrarily detained – as the UN WGAD has found – after being tried without due process by a Military Court which has no jurisdiction over him. Mr. Sam Rainsy, facing an 18-month prison sentence, is unable to return to Cambodia to resume his National Assembly seat and lead his party. Mr. Sam’s conviction for criminal defamation, and similar prosecutions against other individuals, is a significant attack on freedom of expression in Cambodia. The ability of parliamentarians and others to express criticism and dissenting views without fear of intimidation – an essential component of a parliamentary democracy – has been severely restricted.
A serious deterioration in the political and human rights situation in Cambodia has been seen by the international community for over a year now. Without parliamentary democracy re-installed, the situation in Cambodia will only deteriorate."
ADHOC, LICADHO and FORUM-ASIA ask the Inter-Parlimentary Union to:
- Adopt a resolution on the threat to democracy in Cambodia;
- Immediately conduct an IPU on-site mission to Cambodia;
- Communicate to the Cambodian Government, to inquire about the conditions of the detained parliamentarian Mr. Cheam Channy, bearing in mind the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoner, and to clarify our comments on the IPU Resolution with the Government and;
- Urgently petition the Cambodian authorities for the immediate release of Mr, Cheam Channy, on the unequivocal grounds of lack of military jurisdiction over him, for the dropping of all charges of criminal defamation against opposition parliamentarians and for a pardon to be granted for Mr Sam Rainsy.
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