Law on NGOs Passes, Despite Protests and an Opposition Boycott

Despite days of protests in the capital and mounting objections from the international community, ruling party lawmakers on Monday approved a draft law that will regulate the thousands of NGOs in the country. Critics fear the law will be used to shut down or curtail the activities of organizations critical of the government. US Ambassador William Todd has called the law unnecessary, and last week the European Union urged the government to withdraw it from consideration. Sixty-eight National Assembly lawmakers, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, voted in favor of the Law on Associations and NGOs. All fifty-five members of the opposition boycotted the vote. The law must now be sent to the second hour of parliament, the Senate, for approval, before being signed into law by King Norodom Sihamoni. (Neou Vannarin, Phnom Penh)