U.N. rights envoy demands Cambodia release opponent

[struggle4progress]

The U.N. Secretary General's special envoy to Cambodia has demanded the authorities free a detained member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.

The office of the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights quotes Peter Lamprecht as saying the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of three party members, and the arrest of one of them, cast doubts on whether the government is committed to a "pluralistic democratic system,"

The country's National Assembly voted on Thursday to lift the parliamentary protection of Sam Rainsy, a former finance minister, and two allies.

Rainsy, who also holds French citizenship, fled to Paris, but Cheam Channy was arrested by military police and charged with starting a militia to oppose Hun Sen. <snip>

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1297893.htm