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Cambodian gov't approves long-awaited draft NGO bill

Xinhua, June 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Cambodia's Council of Ministers, or Cabinet, on Friday approved a draft law on non- government organizations (NGOs) and associations, a spokesman said.

"The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, approved the draft law on NGOs and Associations on Friday morning," Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said on his Facebook account.

The government and the opposition party have been working on the draft law for 20 years, he said, adding that currently, there are about 5,000 NGOs and associations in Cambodia, including 411 international organizations registered with the Cambodian Foreign Ministry.

"This law aims to ensure the protection of rights and freedoms in establishing NGOs and associations in Cambodia, to protect their legal interests and public interests, as well as to enhance cooperation between NGOs and associations and public authorities," he said.

"This law does not mention or limit (the) percentage of (NGOs') administration operation cost at all. Tax exemption and encouragement (incentive) is still in place." the spokesman added.

Phay Siphan said the draft bill will be sent to the National Assembly next week.

According to the Constitution, a draft law needs to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate and signed by King Norodom Sihamoni before being promulgated.

The draft NGO bill has drawn criticism from some NGOs, U.S. diplomats, and United Nations agency representatives to Cambodia in recent weeks. They voiced their concerns that the law would impose restrictions on the freedoms of NGOs.

However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a public speech on Tuesday that the law does not prevent the activities of NGOs and associations, but it aims to fight against terrorism financing, money laundering, and creation of illegal armed forces.

"NGOs and associations should not worry about this law. It will protect you, support you, and open up to your activities," he said.

The law will require NGOs and associations to register their nationalities with the Cambodian government in order to have legal standing and they are required to file reports on their activities and finances each year to the government. Endi