Phnom Penh, December 26, 2018 –Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has once again laid stress on the importance of the amendment to the Law on Political Parties, reiterating that it does not refer to any political party or group, but to all political parties in Cambodia.
While visiting some 15,600 workers and employees from 22 factories and enterprises in Kampong Speu and Kandal provinces this morning, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the proposed amendment to Article 45 of the Law on Political Parties had been already approved by the legislative body, and will be sent to the Constitutional Council for review, then be submitted to His Majesty the King.
After the proposed amendment enters into force, it doesn’t mean that all politicians banned from politics by the Supreme Court will regain their political rights automatically, he explained.
According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, each politician barred by the Supreme Court has to make a request either to the Ministry of Interior or to him or to His Majesty the King, and their cases will be examined and proceed accordingly.
The judgment by the Supreme Court is final, but now the way is open, he said, adding that if they (banned politicians) request for their royal pardon now, they will be able to prepare themselves for the commune/Sangkat council election in 2022.
“I would like to tell you that you cannot kill the Phnom Penh Administration by calling for foreign pressures […],” he stressed.
The Senate passed the proposed law on amendment to the Law on Political Parties yesterday, while the National Assembly endorsed the amendment on Dec. 13, 2018.
Proposed by 87 lawmakers, the amendment states, “any persons, who are banned by the court from political activities, will be granted their full rights to do politics after passing the validity of the ban defined by the Supreme Court’s verdict or in case those persons are granted the royal pardon by His Majesty the King proposed by the Prime Minister at the request of Interior Minister.”
By Khan Sophirom
