(Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)
25 April 2009
By Pen
Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in
French
The dispute
between Hun Sen and SRP MP Mu Sochua is cranking up.
A government
lawyer sent a lawsuit against the opposition MP following the war of words
between Hun Sen and her. Ong Yentieng, Hun Sen’s advisor, told the media that
the lawsuit was sent to the Phnom Penh municipal court in the afternoon of 24
April. Without providing details on the cause of the lawsuit, Ong Yentieng
said that CPP MPs will meet to lift Mu Sochua’s immunity, if the tribunal
would ask for it, in order to ease the investigations.
On Thursday 23
April, Mu Sochua, accompanied by Kong Sam Onn, her lawyer, held a press
conference at the SRP party headquarters, she indicated that she would sue Hun
Sen for defamation. “My lawsuit does not involve conflicts between a MP and the
PM. This is not about an issue of rank. But, as a woman, I am suing Mr. Hun
Sen,” Mu Sochua said. According to Kong Sam Onn, this lawsuit is based on
Article 63 of the current penal code which could include a fine of 1 to 10
million riels ($250 to $2,500).
Regarding this
dispute, during his travel to Kampot on 04 April, Hun Sen attacked “a woman”
whom he declined to name her name: “In this province, there is a woman known to
be a provocateur. She tripped on someone, but she accused him of unbuttoning her
blouse,” Hun Sen claimed. Mu Sochua declared that she was indignant of Hun Sen’s
speech. She said that Hun Sen was referring to her dispute with a CPP activist
which dated to July 2008. During the general election campaign in Kampot, the
SRP candidate tried to stop a car bearing the army license plate which took part
in the CPP procession. Her goal was to take a picture of it to use as a proof to
her complaint to the National Election Committee (NEC). During the altercation,
Mu Sochua said that she sustained violence from the CPP activists. A button of
her blouse popped out also. Obviously making allusion to this incident,
according to Mu Sochua, Hun Sen’s aim was to attack her. But, the [coward]
Hun Sen said that he did not name anyone. Therefore, the government decides to
attack the SRP MP.
When reached over the phone by Cambodge Soir Hebdo on
Saturday 25 April, Mu Sochua said that she is prepared for a legal fight with
Hun Sen in this case. She also confirmed that her lawsuit will be brought to the
court on Monday 27 April.