Saturday, 26 September 2009

Mu Sochua Dodges Journalists at Airport

Written by DAP NEWS -- Saturday, 26 September 2009
(CAAI News Media)

Mu Sochua, opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker, rebuffed a small crowd of around 10 waiting journalists upon her arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport as she was escorted through the VIP gate.

Mu Sochua’s actions were puzzling to some of the Cambodian reporters given her recent scathing criticisms of democracy and human rights in Cambodia during her trip to the US.

Mu Sochua, who testified before US Congress on September 10, said her trip to the US had hopefully led to more attention being paid to Cambodia’s rights issues and more monitoring of the situation by the US.

“First, they will send a team of high-level delegates to clearly assess the situation in Cambodia,” said Mu Sochua, who represents the SRP in Kampot province. “Second, they said aid must be attached to the respect of human rights. Third, they will pay close attention and they will monitor and take action to end the injustice of the courts to crack down on opposition members of parliament,” she said, according to a story published on the KI-Media.

Mu Sochua referred to herself and SRP lawmaker Ho Vann, both of whom had their immunity stripped earlier this year and faced lawsuits from high-level officials.

She testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US House of Representatives, along with Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Lichado, and Moeun Tola, of the Community Legal Education Center. More especially, Mu Sochua called on the US government to stop aid to the Cambodian military.

Her remarks were dismissed by Cambodian Government officials. Recently, two of 9 National Assembly Commissions issued a statement rejecting all Mu Sochua’s comments.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) held an official press conference to dismiss Mu Sochua’s allegations. Uch Borith, MFAIC secretary of state said he had informed US Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley of the real facts.

Mu Sochua’s claim to have had a talk with Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State was true, but, according to Uch Borith, the meeting just took place “in the street and out of the work office, it was not a formal talk.”

Cambodian Minister of Defense Tea Banh on September 23 told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport, after his return from the US, that Robert Gates, US Defense Minister, ignored the request made from US senators, asking him to comment on democratic system implementation and human right in Cambodia made by some opposition party lawmakers and other NGOs.

Mu Sochua’s call for the US Government to stop aid to the Cambodian military was received with disappointment from soldiers at Preah Vihear.

Even Keo Sovanaroth, SRP secretary-general, said that she supported the US Government’s continuing military support to Cambodia in order to strengthen and build better cooperation with Cambodia in all fields, especially the military.

Mu Sochua could not reached for comment on Friday over her trip to the US.

Before leaving for the US, Mu Sochua rejected the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruling after she lost a defamation case against Prime Minister Hun Sen.

No comments: