The Ministry of Interior and civil society representatives will meet on December 3 at the ministry’s headquarters for the second round of consultations, review and discussion on the amendments to the Law on Association and Non-Governmental Organisations (Lango).

The consultations come after representatives from some civil societies asked for amendments to 17 articles of the law. They said that it had affected democracy and their rights to perform their work.

A press release from the Ministry of Interior dated November 28 said it would meet with the representatives to continue discussions on the amendments.

‘Different points of view’

Cooperation Committee for Cambodia’s coalition building, advocacy and networking programme manager Yoeurng Sotheara said: “[Civil societies] have different points of view because we are from various fields of expertise. It is difficult for us to find a common point, but we will try to reach a consensus,” he said.

The ministry’s secretary of state Bun Hun declined to comment, claiming he was busy. However, he previously told The Post that since the law had been disseminated in 2015, the government had made registration easier for the national and international civil societies.

He said civil societies are the government’s good partners that help in social development and the authorities had never made it difficult for them (to perform their work) as alleged.

According to a report, there are a total of 5,523 registered associations and NGOs as of the end of last year, of which 2,297 are associations. Only some 2,000 associations and NGOs had carried out their activities after registration.