A/HRC/42/60/Add.2 2. Recent amendment of the constitution and criminal code of Cambodia: Insulting the King Since 1993, Cambodian constitution has been amended several times based on the urgent need of Cambodia’s society. However, the recent amendment is very crucial and right time to protect our national interest and defense our sovereignty and national integrity, being threatened by the foreign interference, and thus ensuring state survival. For us we don’t see the amendments restrict the rights and freedom of expression as among those amendments were: - Requirement that political party and each individual place the national interest first - Opposition to foreign country’s internal interference - Penalty handed to those who insult the king Cambodia's Constitution clearly states that RGC has an obligation to uphold Cambodia's sovereignty and independence. The Constitution also sets forth that Cambodia adopts pluralistic multi-party democracy. In this regard, Khmer citizens and all Cambodian political parties regardless of their political tendencies must contribute to defending Cambodia's sovereignty and independence and to advancing Cambodia's national interests, not those of foreign countries. The amendments aimed to enhance the multi-party democracy regime, strengthening the rule of law, national interest and the interest of the people, defending neutrality, independence, territory, and opposing internal interference in Cambodia’s affairs. On the penal code amendment, it is to make insulting the monarchy punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500 for an individual or $12,500 for a legal entity. The Constitution explicitly sets forth that the King is inviolable. In addition, monarchy is part of Cambodia's national motto [Nation-Religion-King]. Therefore, it is the government's vital duty to defend this inviolability. The new rules are lenient, compared to similar rules in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia as well as some European countries, taking some examples as the following: - In UK, anyone appealing the abolition of monarchy could face a life imprisonment. [Law on Treason entering into force in 1848] - In Netherland and Norway, any insult to the constitutional monarchy or the King is punishable of up to 5 years jail term. This amendment is conducted for the benefit of Cambodia and in accordance with Cambodian context and perception based on the constitutional principles, international standard and sharing similarity with other modern states. Laws and policies are not perfect and often are work in progress. They need to be discussed, revisited, amended, re-evaluated and adapted to the development within society. Thus, there will always be imperfections. In conclusion, the benefits of the amendment and revision of legal framework will outweigh the imperfection. Latter should be addressed, and the significant development and opportunity embrace. So far, three indivudals were arrested and charged of insulting the king under this law. The act of using the social media to insult the king is not the exercise of freedom of expression that is protected by the law, but it is a criminial act and the perpetrators must be criminally liable. 3. Amendment of Law on Political Party Cambodia adheres to a multi-party democratic system. The evidence is more than obvious with numerous political parties during the last five general elections: 20 for the 1993 general election; 39 for the 1998 election; 23 for the 2003 election; 11 for 2008 election, 8 for 2013 election and 20 for 2018 election. Cambodia undertook the amendment of the Law on Political Party based on the principles laid in its constitution. From a legal perspective, the amended law applied indiscriminately to every political party and bears all the basic requirements that any democratic countries should adhere to. Nothing in the amended law is threatening the fabric of multi-party system 5