Letter from Members of Parliament around the world to Prime Minister Hun Sen to reverse his dictatorship machine

Posted by: | Posted on: December 11, 2017

His Excellency Samdech Techo Hun Sen

Prime Minister Kingdom of Cambodia

4 December 2017

Dear Prime Minister Hun Sen,

Letter of World MPs to Hun SenWe, the undersigned parliamentarians from around the globe, write to express our deep concern over the arrest and detention of H.E. Mr. Kem Sokha, leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and a longtime human rights defender and advocate for democracy, three months ago.

Having reviewed the information available regarding his case, and taking note of the evidence submitted thus far by the government regarding his alleged guilt, we have serious concerns regarding the validity of the charges against him. We are also extremely concerned by reports that his arrest and detention were undertaken in violation of his parliamentary immunity and have failed to uphold basic principles of fair trial and the rule of law. These procedural concerns, in addition to the lack of evidence to substantiate charges of treason and the wider climate of repression of the opposition, lead us to believe that his arrest is likely politically motivated.

We are aware that national elections are scheduled for July 2018, and hope to ensure that they are genuine, participatory, and inclusive. But we strongly believe that this cannot happen if there is no legitimate opposition that is able to campaign for election. We are therefore alarmed by the decision of the Supreme Court to dissolve the CNRP, following a motion by your government, in addition to the amendment of electoral laws redistributing the CNRP’s parliamentary seats and local offices to other political parties including the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). We strongly believe that the dissolution of the CNRP, in addition to the continued detention of Mr. Kem Sokha, makes it impossible for next year’s elections to be considered free and fair.

Twenty-six years ago, the international community came together for the Paris Peace Conference and pledged to support Cambodia’s goal of building a genuine, multi-party democracy in the aftermath of years of war and turmoil. We – and the people we represent – are committed to helping your country achieve these aims. But this can only happen if basic democratic norms and principles are restored.

In line with these concerns, we the undersigned parliamentarians respectfully request that the Cambodian government undertake the following measures with the utmost urgency:

  • Immediately and unconditionally release Kem Sokha from prison and drop all charges against him, as well as those against other opposition parliamentarians;
  • Immediately reverse the decision to dissolve the CNRP and reinstate all CNRP elected leaders to their positions in Parliament and at the local level;
  • Repeal all recent amendments to the Law on Political Parties and to electoral laws; and
  • Recommit to working with the international community to ensure that next year’s national elections are genuine, participatory, and inclusive.

Yours sincerely,

Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Alan Lowenthal, Member of the House of Representatives, United States of America

Alessia Mosca, Member of the European Parliament, Italy

Alice Lau Kiong Yieng, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ana Gomes, Member of the European Parliament, Portugal

André Gattolin, Senator, France

Antonio L. Tinio, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Arlene Brosas, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Azman Ismail, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Barbara Lochbihler

Member of the European Parliament, Germany

Beate Müller-Gemmeke

Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Bendita Moniz Magno, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Bertu Merlas, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom

Boon Chye Lee, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament, Italy

Brigida A. Correia, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Carlos Zarate, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Charles Chong, Member of Parliament, Singapore

Charles Honoris, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Chong Chieng Jen, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Chua Tian Chang, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Claudia Roth, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Darell Leiking, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

David Anderson, Member of Parliament, Canada

David Martin, Member of the European Parliament, United Kingdom

David Sweet, Member of Parliament, Canada

Domingos de Carvalho, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Donny Imam, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Dr. Ko Chung Sen, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Dzhevdet Chakarov, Member of Parliament, Bulgaria

Elvina Souza Carvalho, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Emmi De Jesus, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Enrique Guerrero, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Er Teck Hwa, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Eva Kusuma Sundari, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Fadli Zon, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Fauzi Abdul Rahman, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Federico Pinedo, Senator, Argentina

Fong Kui Lun, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Frances L. Castro, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Frédérique Ries, Member of the European Parliament, Belgium

Fuziah Salleh, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Gobind Singh Deo, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Gooi Hsiao Leung, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Goran Milevski, Member of Parliament, Macedonia

H. Refrizal, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Hee Loy Sian, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Hendrawan Supratikno, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Henky Kurniadi, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Hilde Vautmans, Member of the European Parliament, Netherlands

Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Irine Roba, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Irma Hutabarat, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Jan Adriaan Esterhuizen, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Javier Nart, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Johari Abdul, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

John McKay, Member of Parliament, Canada

Josef Weidenholzer, Member of the European Parliament, Austria

Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament, Canada

Julian Hill, Member of Parliament, Australia

Julian Tan Kok Ping, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Julie Ward, Member of the European Parliament, United Kingdom

Julijana Nokolova, Member of Parliament, Macedonia

Kai Gehring, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Kamaruddin Jaafar, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Kamarul Baharin Abbas, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Kardaya Warnika, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Kasthuri Patto, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Kerstin Andreae, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Kerstin Lundgren, Member of Parliament, Sweden

Leandro Lobato, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Ledia Hanifa Amalia, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Lidia N. Santos Martins, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Liew Ching Tong, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Lim Guan Eng, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Lim Kit Siang, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Lim Lip Eng, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Loke Siew Fook, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

M. Kulasegaran, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mahfudz Siddiq, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Mahfuz Omar, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Maman Imanulhaq, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Mandlenkosi Sicelo Galo, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Mandlenkosi Sicelo Mabika, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Manivannan Gowindasamy, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mansor Othman, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Marietje Schaake, Member of the European Parliament, Netherlands

Melchias Marcus Mekeng, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Mercy Barends, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Mhd Hatta Md Ramli, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Michael Jeno, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Michael Teo Yu Keng, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Mncedisi Lutando Wellington Filtane, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Mohamad Hanipa Maidin, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mohamad Idris Jusi, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mohamad Imran Abdul Hamid, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mohamed Azmin Ali, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ng Wei Aik, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Nga Kor Ming, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ngeh Khoo Haam, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Nhlanhlakayise Moses Khubisa, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Norbert Neuser, Member of the European Parliament, Germany

Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Nurhayati Assegaf, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Nurul Izzah Anwar, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Olinda Guterres, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Omid Nouripour, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Ong Kian Ming, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Oscar Ling Chai Yiew, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Patricino F. dos Reis, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste

Petras Austrevicius, Member of the European Parliament, Lithuania

Raja Kamarul Baharin Shah Raja Ahmad, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ramkarpal Singh, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Ramón Jáuregui Atondo, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Raul Daza, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Rav Rocamora, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Risa Hontiveros, Senator, Philippines

Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Sibusiso Christopher Mncwabe, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Sim Tong Him, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Sim Tze Tzin, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Siti Mariah Mahmud, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Sivarasa Rasiah, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Steven Sim Chee Keong, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Surendran Nagarajan, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Sylvia Kotting-Uhl, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Sylvie Guillaume, Member of the European Parliament, France

Tabea Rößner, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Tan Kok Wai, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Tan Kwee Kwong, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Tb Ace Hasan Syadzily, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Teddy Baguilat, Jr., Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Teo Kok Seong, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Teo Nie Ching, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Thomas Gambke, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Tom Villarin, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines

Tony Pua Kiam Wee, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Tuti Nusandari Roosdiono, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Uwe Kekeritz, Member of the Bundestag, Germany

Viva Yoga Mauladi, Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

William Jee Keen Leong, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Wong Chen, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Wong Ling Biu, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Wong Tien Fatt, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Xolani Ngwezi, Member of Parliament, South Africa

Zairil Khir Johari, Member of Parliament, Malaysia

MP-Sign-On-Letter-Kem-Sokha_04-Dec-2017





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