Merger of Opposition Remains at Impasse

Kem Sokha, president of Human Right Party, called the merger the “final chance” for the parties to organize for democratic change.

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Tuesday, 19 April 2011

“We see that the leadership system today in the Sam Rainsy Party makes it not possible to accept any other forces.”

The leader of the minority Human Rights Party has written exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to propose both parties merge ahead of elections next year, but the two sides remain unable to find common ground.

In an official letter, HRP President Kem Sokha proposes a new party be formed under a new banner, rather than have his party merge under the Sam Rainsy Party banner. He called the merger the “final chance” for the parties to organize for democratic change.

“We want a new establishment for all, which will be a new kind of democracy-building so that all can live together,” Kem Sokha said in a phone interview Monday. “We tremendously want to mobilize and win against the [Cambodian People’s Party]. Then we can change the current leader.”

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ECCC Law

Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed During the Period of Democratic Kampuchea

("ECCC Law")

with inclusion of amendments as promulgated on 27 October 2004

CHAPTER II

COMPETENCE

Article 3 new

The Extraordinary Chambers shall have the power to bring to trial all Suspects who committed any of these crimes set forth in the 1956 Penal Code, and which were committed during the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979:

• Homicide (Article 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507 and 508)
• Torture (Article 500)
• Religious Persecution (Articles 209 and 210)

The statute of limitations set forth in the 1956 Penal Code shall be extended for an additional 30 years for the crimes enumerated above, which are within the jurisdiction of the Extraordinary Chambers.

The penalty under Articles 209, 500, 506 and 507 of the 1956 Penal Code shall be limited to a maximum of life imprisonment, in accordance with Article 32 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and as further stipulated in Articles 38 and 39 of this Law.