Democracy News
US Voices Concern For Cambodian NGOs
January 13, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
On December 17, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) reported that the government of Cambodia was preparing to enact a new law that will restrict the activities of all nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the country. In an analysis, the ICNL cites that the new law would exclude non-Cambodian nationals (refugees and other displaced persons) from establishing NGOs, require a high membership minimum for new NGOs, establish a lengthy and vague registration process, prohibit the operation of unregistered NGOs, and would give the government unlimited authority to suspend NGOs. Additionally, the new law would also restrict the operation of non-Cambodian NGOs in the country, meaning that foreign NGOs would need permission to operate from the Cambodian government. NGOs have been an important part of Cambodian society and have been instrumental in rebuilding the country since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime and an ensuing civil war.
According to Cambodian news outlet the Phnom Penh Post, the Cambodian government downplayed the NGO law’s severity and stated that the law was meant to help organize civil society. Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Kheng identified the law as “modest” and said that they “did not infringe on [the] rights” of NGOs. Additionally, the minister stated that if the government wanted to restrict civil society that it would not allow NGOs to operate in the first place. AFP reported that government spokesman Phay Siphan said that the new law would “[protect] human rights and [keep] social order.”
On January 12, the US Department of State voiced concern over the NGO law and stated that the US government “strongly opposes the enactment of any law that would constrain the legitimate activities of NGOs.” Additionally, the US Department of State urged the government of Cambodia to re-evaluate whether or not the draft law is even necessary. In closing, the agency identified that NGOs in Cambodia, and abroad, make crucial contributions to strong and free civil societies and are vital “to strengthening democratic institutions, enhancing economic and humanitarian well-being, and promoting a sustainable economy.”
Sources:
US Department of State – Cambodia: Draft NGO Law
AFP – US concerned for NGOs in Cambodia
The Phnom Penh Post – Government stands by controversial NGO law
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