The China Post
Thursday, March 12, 2009
PHNOM PENH -- A Cambodian parliamentary committee has restored the immunity of opposition leader Sam Rainsy after he paid a fine of US$2,500 for defaming ruling party leaders, lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Although members of parliament have general immunity against prosecution, the National Election Committee (NEC) can fine candidates who violate rules during election campaigns, and it had found that Rainsy defamed leaders of the Cambodian People's Party, including Prime Minister Hun Sen.
When his immunity was removed in late February, Rainsy denounced it as a move to silence his criticism of Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier who has been in charge for the last 23 years.
Rainsy, leader of the opposition party that carries his name, has been the main challenger to the prime minister's dominance during those years. He served as finance minister under joint Prime Ministers Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen after elections sponsored by the United Nations in 1993.
Hun Sen won a landslide victory in an election last July but remains vulnerable in Phnom Penh to Rainsy, who commands support from the capital's educated youth.
Cheam Yeap, a ruling party lawmaker, said the permanent committee would not have restored Rainsy's immunity on Tuesday in a closed-door vote if he had not paid the fine.
“He could have faced up to a year in jail if he had not paid,” he said.
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