Opposition Official Meach Sovannara Threatens to Play American Card

Meach Sovannara spoke to reporters after his appearance Monday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. KT Photo: Chea Takihiro 

Khmer Times/Chea Takihiro and Pav Suy

Monday, 20 July 2015

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – Meach Sovannara, lead spokesman for the opposition, threatened to play the American card if the Municipal Court does not drop its investigation of him for his role in violent protests at Freedom Park last year.

“I will not leave my country, but the court must ensure me justice,” he said. “Otherwise, I will exercise my privilege as an American citizen to complain to the American courts, and then this issue is going to get bigger.”

It has been one year since violence broke out at Freedom Park between security forces and lawmakers from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

On June 11, Mr. Sovannara, who is the CNRP’s Chief Information Officer, was injured in a traffic accident. After the accident, he underwent nearly one month of overseas medical treatment, first in Bangkok and then in the United States. He returned to Cambodia July 13.

He told Khmer Times that the court has refused his requests to go abroad for more treatment. 

“I am not satisfied with the court’s decision,” he said. “It is a violation of human rights.”

Culture of Dialogue

He said the investigation of him should be dropped.

“It was a political issue that happened because of the political crisis between the two parties,” Mr. Sovannara said, referring to his trial which stems from the bloody street battle. 

“However, this political crisis has already ended, so my case should also be finished.”

“I still have hope in the culture of dialogue,” he said, referring to the current policy of détente between the nation’s two largest parties. “It’s time we work hand in hand for Cambodia.”

But Phay Siphan, Office of the Council of Minister spokesman, maintained that politics should not interfere in the courts.

“Now, the government is strengthening the rule of law, and government power and the culture of dialogue are separate from the court’s power,” he said in an interview. “The Prime Minister said already that the culture of dialogue cannot interfere with the court’s power. The court decisions are the discretion of judges.”

Sok Sam Oeun, a lawyer with the Cambodia Defenders Project, said the reason why the Municipal Court will not allow Mr. Sovannara to travel abroad again is the fear that he may stay in the US and never return. But, he said there are ways around the law. 

“The accused must make sure that the hospitals in Cambodia cannot cure his conditions,” Mr. Sam Oeun said.