Fwd: FW: CORRIGENDUM: Civil Rights Defenders - Cambodia Parliament Passes Draconian NGO Law
Houn Hoeun
From: SEY Peou <pe...@ngoforum.org.kh>
Date: Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 8:52 AM
Subject: FW: CORRIGENDUM: Civil Rights Defenders - Cambodia Parliament Passes Draconian NGO Law
To: SEY Peou <pe...@ngoforum.org.kh>
Dear all;
Sorry for double receiving.
FYI- Civil Rights Defenders Press Release to Law on Association and NGOs in Cambodia .
Best Regards;
Peou
From: VONG Kosal
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 8:35 AM
To: NGOF All Staff
Subject: FW: CORRIGENDUM: Civil Rights Defenders - Cambodia Parliament Passes Draconian NGO Law
FYI
VONG Kosal
Legal Officer
The NGO FORUM on Cambodia
#9-11, St. 476, Sangkat Toul Tompoung1, P.O. Bo 2295 Phnom Penh 3
Tel: (855) 23 214 429 Ext. No 106, Fax: (855) 23 994 063
Mobile: (855) 90 96 96 96, Email: ko...@ngoforum.org.kh
Web: ngoforum.org.kh | Working Together for Positive Change
From: Theng Savoeun [mailto:ccfc.c...@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 10:15 PM
To: Soeung Saroeun; Mi Nac; chaks...@cchrcambodia.org; neva.t...@diakonia.se; Ali Al-Nasani; JKe...@iri.org; Chamrong Chuon; ratan...@kh.boell.org; Director (Naly); Caroline....@actionaid.org; buntho...@asiafoundation.org; silas....@asiafoundation.org; excom; Prak Keokongkea; Toy Monireth; Sin Putheary; Vonn Vathana; marta....@cchrcambodia.org; raman...@cchrcambodia.org; th...@cchrcambodia.org; mo...@clec.org.kh; to...@clec.org.kh; chh...@comfrel.org; kpa...@comfrel.org; crrtdi...@crrt-cambodia.org; al...@dca.dk; be...@dca.dk; cym.ca...@dca.dk; mam.s...@dpacam.org; abo...@ewmi.org; adhoc....@gmail.com; koy....@gmail.com; mala...@gmail.com; mora...@gmail.com; saran....@gmail.com; con...@licadho-cambodia.org; min...@lwd.org.kh; en...@mekongwatch.org; d...@nepcambodia.org; samnan...@ngocrc.org; NGIN Lyda; HENG Pheakdey; TEK Vannara; coom...@nifty.com; Bori...@npaid.org; jcou...@ohchr.org; ss...@ohchr.org; sophe...@online.com.kh; bl...@oxfamamerica.org; csa...@oxfamamerica.org; Chris.E...@oxfamnovib.nl; ritt...@oxfamnovib.nl; ssitts; sana...@savethechildren.org; thi...@silaka.org; Sarom Sarom; kolp...@ticambodia.org; sophor...@ticambodia.org; vira...@ticambodia.org; chea....@vsoint.org; chuon...@wgpd.net; jason...@wvi.org; chracsec...@yahoo.com; suonbuns...@yahoo.com; khy...@wvi.org; wdo.di...@gmail.com; s...@oxfamamerica.org; dire...@act.org.kh; Zach Lampell; zlam...@icnl.org; Communications CCIM; nse...@padek.org; star-d...@starkampuchea.org.kh; lengl...@yahoo.com; VONG Kosal; Kimtheng Sen (kimthe...@actionaid.org); Yahoo Sarom
Cc: smt
Subject: CORRIGENDUM: Civil Rights Defenders - Cambodia Parliament Passes Draconian NGO Law
Dear All
I would like to share Civil Rights Defenders Press Release to Parliament of Members passes Association and NGO law today.
Please find in the attache file,
Best Wishes,
On 7/7/2015 8:48 PM, Soeung Saroeun wrote:
Dear all:
Zach and I have come up with this talking points for tomorrow meeting at NA. Any comments, please do let me know. Thanks to Zach for your initial draft.
The LANGO in its current form is UNACCEPTABLE because it impermissibly restricts the freedom of association and freedom of expression. At least 14 articles of the LANGO need to be carefully and fully reviewed, and the other 10 articles need to be rephrased or reworded, specifically:
(1) Article 2 limits an association or NGO to work and contribute to only social development. It is violate article 35 of Cambodian national constitution.
(2) Article 5 prohibits individuals from establishing a new association or NGO if he or she previously held a leadership position in a domestic association or NGO that was deleted from registration - such a restriction amounts to an infringement on the right to freedom of association. Article 5 also violates Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC) - Article 15 requires State Parties, which includes Cambodia, to “recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association,” - Article 5 prohibits those under 18 years old from forming an association.
(3) the Ministry of Interior, pursuant to Article 8 has the sole authority to deny registration of a domestic association or NGO and can deny registration it deems the association or NGO has objectives which “jeopardize peace, stability and public order or harm the national security, national unity, culture, and traditions of the Cambodian national society;” first - the Ministry of Interior is permitted to act as a legal interpreter which is the job of the judiciary; second, many of the reasons to deny registration are not consistent with international norms and others are vague and undefined - this means that the LANGO permits the Ministry of Interior to illegally deny the freedom of association.
(4) Article 9: the LANGO imposes mandatory registration requirements and criminalizes unregistered group, organizations that are not registered are not allowed to conduct any activities - this is a direct violation of Article 22 of the ICCPR;
(5) Article 24 requires all domestic NGOs, foreign associations and foreign NGOs to be neutral toward all political parties in the Kingdom of Cambodia - this constitutes a direct violation to the freedom of expression guaranteed in Article 19 of the ICCPR and the freedom of opinion in Article 41 of the Constitution; and
These are just a few of the provisions that violate international and domestic law - the ENACTMENT OF LANGO should be further DELAYED in order to have enough time to amend to ensure that Cambodia meets its international legal obligations and comply with national constitution and until the key concerns in the law fully addressed.
FYI – there will be a press conference after the meeting with National Assembly, at Imperial Garden Hotel from 12:30pm. You are welcome to join this conference.
The attached files will be distributed and submitted to NA members tomorrow.
If you have questions and/or comments, please kindly let me know.
Warmest regards,
Soeung Saroeun (Mr) Executive Director
Cooperation Committee for Cambodia
Asia Regional Coordinator for Beyond 2015
M: +855 (0)16 900 503 or 0888 900 503
T: +855 (0)23 214 152 F: +855 (0)23 216 009
www.ccc-cambodia.org Skype: Saroeun578
Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Cambodia
CCC is the Asia regional coordinator for beyond 2015
Executive Director of Our Objective Organization "O.O.O"
Email: hhoo...@gmail.com or in...@ourobjective.org
SKYPE : hoeunooo
Website: www.ourobjective.org
Office Phone:(855 32)45 99 555
