柬埔寨欲修法保护执政党的利益

AS IT IS 2015-07-25 New Laws in Cambodia Seen to Help Ruling Party in 2018 柬埔寨欲修法保护执政党的利益

Two years ago, the ruling party in Cambodia suffered a loss in support during the country’s last election. Critics say Cambodian lawmakers are now trying to push through laws to prevent that from happening again. 

In the past year, parliament has passed laws for judges and the courts, elections and non-governmental organizations. More measures targeting labor¹ unions and the Internet are to be debated soon.

Observers fear that the ruling party will misuse² three laws approved by parliament in recent weeks. They think the government will use these laws -- and others being considered -- to silence opponents and strengthen its power before the next elections, in 2018.

The new laws are the ruling party’s reaction to the results of the 2013 elections. The opposition³ came close to winning that vote.

On Friday, Cambodia’s Senate approved a disputed law affecting non-governmental organizations, or NGOs. The law gives the government powers to close any non-profit organization or group that fails to meet registration⁴ and reporting requirements. The law also gives Cambodian officials the power to close any group that endangers peace, national unity⁵ or culture. The government claims the law will prevent terrorism and financial wrongdoing.

The European Union, the United Nations and the United States have opposed the law. And hundreds of aid groups called for its cancellation⁶. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Senate to protest the law. Opposition lawmakers boycotted⁷ the vote. Now the law will be sent to Cambodia’s king for final approval.

Ou Virak is a political expert. He created a research group called The Future Forum⁸. He says many new bills are being approved because Prime Minister Hun Sen wants to guarantee his party will win the 2018 elections.

“The government has made it clear that they are upset with the NGOs, and particularly NGOs who have been political, who have been talking about the election results, who have been complaining about the lack of free and fair elections in the past, particularly the protests that ensued (after) the 2013 disputed election.”

Ou Virak says Cambodia’s ruling party believes many non-governmental organizations support the opposition. Many of these groups receive money from foreign governments. Mr. Ou Virak says the prime minister fears they will support a rebellion against his government. Mr. Hun Sen has ruled the country for more than 25 years.

Another law would restrict the activities of Cambodian trade unions. Many unions support the opposition.

The government also wants to establish limits on the Internet. Observers are not surprised that it wants to do so, because social media helped the opposition in the 2013 elections. The government says a law limiting use of the Internet would help in the fight against computer crimes.

Mr. Ou Virak says young people in Cambodia use social media sites, such as Facebook and YouTube, to show their anger with the government. He says that is why the government will seek to restrict them.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if, if internet freedom, or cybercrime, will be used as a scapegoat⁹ to, to try to reel in another medium that could undermine the grip of the ruling party -- and that is the internet.”

The government says people should not worry about the new laws. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng said Cambodians should not be afraid that the government will use the laws to suppress opposition. But the government controls judges in the country. And it has often used laws to abuse opponents.

For example, this month the city court in the capital Phnom Penh sentenced 11 opposition supporters to up to 20 years in prison just because they were at a protest in the capital last year that became violent. Rights groups strongly criticized the court’s decision.

Words in The News

upset with – v. (phrasal) to be displeased¹⁰ with; to be troubled by

ensue – v. to take place as a result of; to take place later than something else

scapegoat – n. someone who takes the blame for something but is not responsible for it

reel in – v. to bring in; to attract

medium – n. a means of communication; plural¹¹: media

undermine – v. to make something less effective

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

9 scapegoat   

n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊

参考例句：

• He has been made a scapegoat for the company's failures.他成了公司倒闭的替罪羊。
• They ask me to join the party so that I'll be their scapegoat when trouble comes.他们想叫我入伙，出了乱子，好让我替他们垫背。

10 displeased   

a.不快的

参考例句：

• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。
• He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。

11 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。