Reuters News

Cambodia to jail unfaithful spouses
SOPHENG CHEANG

Associated Press

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved controversial legislation Friday to make extramarital affairs a criminal offence, punishable by up to a year in prison.

Unfaithful spouses could also face fines of up to $244 (U.S.) under legislation that the National Assembly passed in a 64-5 vote. The law faces easy passage in the senate, or upper house, due to the ruling party's domination of both chambers. To take effect, it must be signed by King Norodom Sihamoni.

The easy passage was also helped by new parliamentary voting rules that allowed Prime Minister Hun Sen's party to pass legislation with a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority, circumventing the need for the ruling party to seek support from its coalition partner, Funcinpec.

Backed by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party, the legislation has been condemned by critics as repressive.

Maonh Sophan, a royalist Funcinpec party legislator, called it “intrusive.” He was among about a dozen royalist party legislators who boycotted the vote.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the “law is full of hypocrisy ... and can never be fairly enforced.”

He claims the government intends to use the measure not to ensure fidelity but to enable the ruling party to jail dissenters with trumped-up adultery charges.

Opposition party legislator Eng Chhay Eang has compared the jail punishment to the harsh rule of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan — and to Cambodia's own brutal former leader Pol Pot, whose Khmer Rouge regime caused the deaths of nearly two million people in the late 1970s.

In late February, Hun Sen called for such a rule for public officials, in a bid to uphold high moral conduct.

Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, defended the law, saying it is aimed at promoting dignity and mutual respect between married couples.

ooooo interesting law.

Man whats up with these fu-ked up laws. Man how is this going to benefit a playa like me?

It doesnt. lol Stay in the 'states.

very dumb law

cambodia makes the dumbest laws. Fist the porn, then the beauty contest now this. What's next ''no eating after 10PM or before 6AM''? How come they are not doing anything about prosititution?

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the “law is full of hypocrisy ... and can never be fairly enforced.”

He is right: It should be written in that law that this will apply to Hun Sen as well. @@

that is completely retarded ...

solution: don't get married

great, regualr people will be arreted and hun sen will make more love child.

what is wrong with this law? if u plan to fool around why would you committ to marriage?

Its notwhats wrong with the law its what wrong with the people who don't obey it. they're not taking away a privilage, they're taking away a right.

smartest thing u ever said. I will have to agree with u my khmer chen brother.

New law: Wiping arse with left hand will result in 1 year in jail.

they should worry about bigger matters then this.

Heheh... it's just going to be cases of "he did" and "she did" back and forth.

I don't think the law's a biggie. Yes, it's hypocritical, but the everyday Khmer person are not in a position to argue. And yes, like purple said, don't get married if you plan to fool around.

Although from my own experience I know that affairs do happen on a far too regular basis in Cambodia.

Doesn't Hun Sen himself keep mistresses?