Seng Theary removed from her position by court order: Another govt critics hit by Hun Sen’s kangaroo court?

Seng Theary (L) and Vi Houi (R)

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CSD: the prosecutor installs Vi Houi
09 July 2009
By F.C.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Seng Theary, Director of the Center for Social Development (CSD), was removed from her position on Thursday 09 July based on a decision handed down by the Phnom Penh municipal court.
The news was known since the verdict was handed down by the court at 2:30PM the day before. Vi Houi, the former CSD director should “temporarily” replace Seng Theary at the head of the organization. This is the outcome of a conflict which opposes the two leaders for more than one year.
Several CSD officials and reporters were present in front of the organization headquarters in Phnom Penh when the court prosecutor arrived to confirm the news and read the verdict. He also listened to the criticisms raised by Seng Theary’s defenders who noted that she is currently absent from Cambodia, as she is on a trip overseas. CSD officials also indicated that a large number of the organization personnel are currently completing their duties in the provinces, and they could not be present to listen to the verdict. The officials also raised the issue of the CSD image being affected by the case, as well as the difficulties CSD is encountering in the provinces where it is accomplishing its work. [DAP news also reported that lawyer Ang Uddom and several CSD personnel claimed that Vi Houi does not have the ability to lead CSD, unlike Seng Theary].
Following long discussions, the various parties present signed the document recognizing the court decision and Vi Houi was declared the CSD president. The latter immediately proceeded to ask that Seng Theary’s belonging be removed from her office so that he can settle in.
Seng Theary was nominated as CSD president at the beginning of 2008 to replace Vi Houi. She also nominated a new board of directors while the old one still proclaim their legitimacy. Since then, the two “teams” never stop criticizing each other, and in the absence of an amicable resolution, the case was brought to the court.