Cambodian opposition MPs stripped of parliamentary immunity

Liam Cochrane

Last Updated: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:27:00 +1000

Cambodia's National Assembly has voted to remove the parliamentary immunity of two opposition MPs, in a move criticised by a human rights group as an attack on the role of the political opposition.

Two members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party - former Minister of Women's Affairs, Mu Sochua and Phnom Penh municipality representative, Ho Vann - had their immunity stripped in a single show-of-hands vote by the National Assembly.

Without immunity, Mu Sochua now faces a defamation charge from the Prime Minsiter Hun Sen, while Ho Vann is being sued for defamation by senior military officials.

Mu Sochua says the decision is a sign democracy is going backwards in Cambodia and says she is prepared to go to jail, rather than pay a fine to the Prime Minister, if found guilty.