Khieu Kanharith Says Law to Protect Former Leaders Is Not Necessary
“Phnom Penh: Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information, stated that the request of an opposition parliamentarian, who wants the creation of law to protect the former leaders, is not necessary.
“A Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian made an appeal to the government, to the National Assembly, and to the Senate to consider the creation of a law to protect former leaders while they are out of power.
“In the appeal on 2 January, Mr. Keo Remy expressed the opinion that Cambodia should prepare a law to protect former heads of the Royal Government, because leaders who hold power for a long time make mistakes.
“The appeal of the opposition parliamentarian was done after the hanging of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who had been overthrown by US troops.
“Mr. Keo Remy explained that the law will leave an exit for former heads of the Royal Government to end their power without fear and obstacles, and such a law would show that Cambodia is a great civilization which can show magnanimity.
“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and the spokesperson of the Royal Government, said on 2 January 2007 that the request for a law to protect former heads of the Royal Government is not necessary, because it might make leaders careless.
“Information Minister Khieu Kanharith added, ‘The best and most appropriate decision is made through elections every five years, which is a judgment on every leader.’
“A Funcinpec parliamentarian, who asked that his name should not be disclosed, said, ‘We parliamentarians, we make a law if it is important and protects the common good, not to protect the benefit of an individual.’ This appeal to protect former leadership is likely not to work.
“The lawyer Sok Sam Oeun, the director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, expressed his opinion that this appeal is somewhat a good idea, but according to the law, only offenses can be forgiven, but not crimes.
“Mr. Koul Panha, the director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, agreed that there should be a method or procedure to guarantee that important leaders, when they are no longer in power, should still be considered to remain important in society, and they should be respected.
“Mr. Koul Panha said that if this could be achieved, this would be very important, ‘Even after they leave power, they are still important and can help with social affairs, like the leaders in the USA do, and they are very good models.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4176, 4.1.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Deum Ampil, Vol.2, #3, 3-10.1.2007
∙ Sihanoukville Keng Kang Airport Will Be Inaugurated on 15 January
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1224, 4.1.2007
∙ Samdech Heng Samrin Supports Law to Protect Former Heads of Royal Government
∙ Samdech Krom Preah Loses Funcinpec’s Case as He Predicted
∙ Japanese Government Helps Construct Six Elementary School Buildings with 147 Rooms in Phnom Penh in 2007
∙ 15-Year-Old Girl Raped and Threatened to Be Killed if She Tells Her Parents [rapist is arrested – L’Vea Aem, Kandal]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5931, 4.1.2007
∙ Eleven Parties Participate in Commune and Subdistrict Elections
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3053, 4.1.2007
∙ Phnom Penh Court Decides for Funcinpec to Win the Case against Prince Ranariddh [over sale of Funcinpec headquarters]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4176, 4.1.2007
* Khieu Kanharith [Minister of Information] Says Law to Protect Former Leaders Is Not Important
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