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CALD Resolution asking
for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary
immunity of Messrs. Sam Rainsy, Cheam Channy and Chea Poch; and, the
immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Cheam Channy from his detention
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Noting
that Mr. Sam Rainy, MP, leader of the opposition of the Kingdom of
Cambodia and two other parliamentarians, Messrs. Cheam Channy and Chea
Poch, were stripped of their parliamentary immunity on February 3, 2005 by
the Cambodian National Assembly;
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Alarmed
that the vote was taken by a show of hands, in violation of the Cambodian
National Assembly’s own regulations and procedures and was held behind
closed doors after asking journalists and diplomats to step out of the
assembly hall;
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Aware
that Mr. Sam Rainsy, former Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals &
Democrats (CALD), is now in the United States and Mr. Chea Poch is in a
neighboring country while Mr. Chean Channy was arrested and is currently
detained by the Cambodian military in Phnom Penh;
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Convinced
that the reasons given by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and its
coalition partner, the royalist FUNCINPEC, to justify the lifting of said
parliamentary immunity were of questionable basis; and, as observed by
Forum Asia Democracy, the “obviously trumped-up crimes (are) clearly aimed
at stifling the opposition”;
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Mentioning
that the Committee of Human Rights of the International Parliamentary
Union states that “parliamentary immunity is designed to protect
parliamentarians from possibly groundless proceedings or accusations that
may be politically motivated”;
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Concerned
that the lifting of parliamentary immunity of oppositionist legislators
creates a dangerous precedence that weakens the legislature as an
institution and as a separate branch of government whose independence and
credibility are essential in any democratic country;
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Bothered
that this action further undermines whatever democratic gains have been
made in Cambodia;
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Noting
that U.S. Senator McConnell described the move of the ruling coalition as
“outrageous and unacceptable” and urged the US State Department to respond
“in a forceful and appropriate manner”;
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Be it therefore
resolved that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats ask for the
immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary immunity of
Messrs. Sam Rainsy, Cheam Channy and Chea Poch; and, the immediate and
unconditional release of Mr. Cheam Channy from his detention.
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For the Council of
Asian Liberals & Democrats:
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(sgd.)
- Hon. Bi-Khim
Hsiao, MP
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Secretary General
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February 10, 2005
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