Traditional Indigenous Authorities Have an Audience with the President of the National Assembly

President of the National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, gave an audience to a delegation of traditional indigenous authorities from Mondulkiri and Rattanakkiri provinces in the afternoon of 24th December 2009 at the National Assembly Palace.

In the meeting, the President of the National Assembly expressed his great pleasure and warmed welcome to the guests and briefed them the recent political situation and development of the National Assembly and the country.

Mr. Yin Sopheap, regional legal affairs expert of the UNDP Access to Justice Project informed the President of the National Assembly that the purpose of the visit is to find out the roles and duties of the legislative body and to report to the President of the National Assembly about their long-standing traditional livelihoods and to request for the support to the Traditional Indigenous Authorities.

During the visit, some lawmakers and leaders of the Secretariat General of the National Assembly told them about the organizational chart, roles and duties of the National Assembly, roles and duties of the expert commissions and that of lawmakers, and organizational chart and services of the Secretariat General of the National Assembly. After the meeting the delegation visited the National Assembly’s library and exhibition hall.

It should be noted that, upon the request of the Ministry of Justice and the Access to Justice Project, the Technical Coordination Secretariat of Cambodian Parliament (TCS) with support of the UNDP’s Legal Assistance Project (UNDP/LEAP) organized the visit of the indigenous delegation. The delegation composes of 24 people of five different indigenous groups including Rattanakkiri’s Kreung, Tumpoun, Charay and Prov and Mondulkiri’s Phnong indigenous groups.