As expected, the draft law on associations and non-governmental organizations (LANGO) was passed by the National Assembly in the morning of 13 July 2015. Governmental security forces restricted access to the National Assembly of some 500 protesters, who rallied against the controversial bill.
Each of the nine chapters and 39 articles were gradually discussed and approved by only 68 parliamentarians from the Cambodian People’s Party. The session ended in the morning, while hundred security forces with shields, batons, and barricades were set up around the compound of the National Assembly.
However, 55 parliamentarians from the opposition party did not support the widely criticized bill and boycotted the session.
The bill will be subsequently submitted to the Senate for discussion and voting, before the final approval by the King.
