Cambodia Monthly News Summary - June 2010
Published on 1 July 2010
Supreme Court Trial Upholds Defamation Verdict Against Opposition MP Mu Sochua
2 June 2010. The Supreme Court upheld a verdict in favor of Prime Minister Hun Sen in his defamation lawsuit against opposition MP Mu Sochua. The complaint arose during a bizarre turn of events last year when the Prime Minister accused Mu Suchua of defamation for holding a press conference where she accused the Prime Minister of defamation. The Supreme Court upheld the July 2009 decision of the Municipal Court, which ordered Mu Suchua to pay a 8.5 million riel fine (US$2,125) and 8 million riel (US$2,000) in compensation to the Prime Minister. Mu Suchua has refused to pay the fine and compensation, which is due to be paid on 16 July 2010. The case against Mu Sochua has been widely condemned by civil society and the international community.
Donors Pledge $1.1 Billion in Aid at 2010 Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum
2-3 June 2010. The third Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF) was held at the Council for the Development of Cambodia office in Phnom Penh. A number of multilateral and bilateral donors met with the government to discuss Cambodia's implementation of its strategic development plan to date. Following the two-day forum, the donors announced that $1.1 billion in development aid would be pledged to Cambodia for 2010. This is an increase from last year's $950 million. Japan remains Cambodia's single largest bilateral partner in terms of official development aid with its pledge of $131.8 million.
Government Appoints National Anti-Corruption Council
15 June 2010. The government established the National Anti-Corruption Council, an oversight committee for the operational Anti-Corruption Unit, following the passing of the anti-corruption law in March 2010. Top Sam, a member of National Assembly, was elected to be the first president of the 11-member council. Prak Sok, a senator, will serve as vice president. Om Yentieng, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit, indicated that the National Anti-Corruption Council now employs 60 staff, and another 60 people would be hired in the near future.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Makes Third Visit to Cambodia
27 June 2010. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya Subedi paid his third official visit to Cambodia on June 8-17 to examine the Cambodian justice system, which is plagued by issues of corruption and a lack of independence. During his visit, he met with King Norodom Sihamoni, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Chairman of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee Om Yentieng, and other government officials and civil society representatives. Subedi also met with community representatives, who raised concerns over the surge of land appropriations and asked him to submit their petitions to the Prime Minister.
At the conclusion of his visit, Subedi told a press conference that he was "disappointed" that Prime Minister Hun Sen could not meet with him due to a reported illness. The following week, the Prime Minster strongly criticized Subedi's choice of words, saying that the use of the word "disappointed" was disrespectful. Hun Sen said that instead of expressing disappointment, the envoy should have wished him a speedy recovery. Subedi later reportedly wrote a letter of apology to the Prime Minister.
