via CAAI News Media
Jun 2, 2010
Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's ruling that an opposition legislator had defamed Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The court also upheld a 4,000-dollar fine against former women's affairs minister Mu Sochua.
Speaking outside the Supreme Court, she called the ruling 'a travesty of justice' and pledged to go to jail rather than pay.
'I have been found guilty of a crime I have not committed,' she said. 'This is not justice. This is justice for sale, and for the powerful people only.'
Mu Sochua and several dozen supporters from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party then tried to march to the annual meeting of foreign donors, which began Wednesday.
But armed riot police blocked their path, and they were forced to abandon the march.
Donors are expected to pledge around 1 billion dollars to the government during the two-day conference.
Mu Sochua said donor nations must exert pressure on Phnom Penh.
'You have as much responsibility as any development partner to hold the government to account,' she said. 'And that means justice, equality, a fair trial and human rights that must be upheld for Cambodia to move forward.'
Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling was the culmination of a yearlong battle between Mu Sochua and the prime minister.
It began after a speech in which Hun Sen used the term 'strong leg,' described by some as derogatory, against an unnamed woman from Kampot province.
Mu Sochua, who represents Kampot province, said the comment was aimed at her and was defamatory. Hun Sen countersued, saying that her allegation of defamation was itself defamatory.
Her case was dismissed in court, her lawyer quit after coming under political pressure.
The case against the opposition lawmaker was one of several brought against the government's critics over the past 18 months, and led to fears of increasing repression.
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