The National Assembly Will Restore Parliamentary Immunity
Three opposition legislators will have their parliamentary immunities restored when the National Assembly reconvenes
National Assembly's president Prince Norodom Ranariddh says that the 3 legislators will have their immunities restored on February 28. Opposition party's leader Sam Rainsy, Mr. Cheam Channy, and Mr. Chea Poch all of the opposition party, were stripped of their immunities on 02-03-2005 on defamation charges against Prince Ranariddh and Prime Minister Hun Sen. The National Assembly is waiting for an official letter from the Ministry of Justice, and afterwards the legislators must vote and get ¾ of the votes for approval. Prince Ranariddh says that in order to restore the immunities, the National Assembly needs a letter from the Ministry of Justice, because the National Assembly stripped the immunities, and that he does not see any problem in this procedure. He says that he will go through the procedure when the National Assembly reconvenes. The three legislators were stripped off their immunities by the Cambodian People's Party's and the royalist FUNCINPEC party's legislators voting by raising their hands on February 3rd. 2005 with the Phnom Penh municipal court's penal code application. Mr. Sam Rainsy plans to return to Cambodia next week. Mr. Son Chhay, opposition Sam Rainsy party's (SRP) legislators' president says that the three lawmakers will have their immunity issues solved and will be able to join the session when the National Assembly reconvenes. Mr. Ang VongVathna, Minister of Justice says that he sent a letter and some documents concerning the three legislators to Prince Ranariddh Tuesday. Cambodia Center for Human Rights' director Kem Sokha says that he welcomes the move but that it should be for the interest of the Cambodian people.