Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by opposition party Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang against three education officials who allegedly called opposition leader Sam Rainsy a national traitor, Eng Chhay Eang’s lawyer Mao Sophearith said Tuesday.
The lawsuit, filed last month, had alleged that Higher Education Association President Seng Phally, association Director In Viracheat and Youk Ngoy, dean of the Royal University of Law and Economic Science, defamed Sam Rainsy by calling him a traitor during a news conference, Eng Chhay Eang said at the time.
The news conference came shortly after signs appeared at schools and academic institutes around Phnom Penh denouncing the opposition leader and questioning his nationality.
Youk Ngoy and Seng Phally declined comment Tuesday, while In Viracheat said he was too busy with meetings to talk to a reporter. Eng Chhay Eang was also unavailable for comment. In Viracheat denied in September that he had accused Sam Rainsy of being a traitor.
Municipal Court Chief Prosecutor Ouk Savouth, who Mao Sophearith said dismissed the case, hung up when contacted by a reporter.
Mao Sophearith said the court’s rejection of the lawsuit indicated double standards, given the cases of Mam Sonando of Beehive Radio and Rong Chhun of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association, who were arrested earlier this month after being accused of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Eng Chhay Eang’s case “is a criminal case, and [the court] didn’t even do an investigation,” Mao Sophearith said. “In the cases the government has brought against Rong Chhun and Mam Sonando, they have found no evidence yet, but they just arrested them.”
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith declined comment.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay accused the court of inconsistency.
“The court always finds a way to make sure whoever the government accuses will be arrested, but not the other way around,” he said.
“It is easy for the government, the ruling party, to charge their opponents even though the lawsuits are not legally good enough,” he added.
