US Embassy: Cambodia’s Law on Political Parties was passed with little public debate

Tin Sokhavuth



Responding to the amendments to the Cambodian Law on Political Parties passed on Monday, the U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh wrote, in the same day, on its Facebook page that the law was passed with little public debate. And the amendments give the Cambodian government too much authority to restrict freedom of speech and/or legitimate activities of political parties in the kingdom.

"The amendments give the government broad authority to restrict freedom of expression and the legitimate activities of political parties and, under vaguely defined circumstances, to dissolve them," wrote US Embassy on its Facebook page.

The embassy also said that according to the Cambodian Constitution, the Kingdom of Cambodia is a "liberal, multi-party democracy" country where citizens have the right to freely form political parties.

"The Kingdom of Cambodia adopts a policy of Liberal democracy and Pluralism," read the first clause in Article 51, Chapter IV of the Constitution of Cambodia.

However, the embassy added that over the past 25 years, Cambodia has stepped forward in the right direction by holding already five national elections. Nevertheless, if any political party will be banned or its right will be restricted under the new law on political parties, it will be a "setback" for the development of liberal democracy in the country.

"Any government action to ban or restrict parties under the new amendments would constitute a significant setback for Cambodia’s political development and would seriously call into question the legitimacy of the upcoming elections." The embassy added.

For this matter, the embassy calls on the government to take all necessary measures to ensure that the upcoming elections in 2017 and 2018 will be free, fair, and transparent during which all political parties have equal right and opportunity to compete with each other.

In response to the embassy, Mr. Sok Eisan, spokesman for the Cambodian People Party (CPP), told reporters that the amendments were necessary, first to make Cambodian Law on Political Party full of quality; second, to adapt to a new situation; third, to respond to the demand to strengthen political parties that play a crucial role in the elections on the democratic arena; forth, to respond to the need for democracy and the rule of law in order to secure political and social stability.