Domestic and foreign associations or NGOs must register with the government to work.

[geovalin]

Top concerns

Tue, 14 July 2015

Mandatory registration:
Domestic and foreign associations or NGOs must register with the government to work.

If they fail to do so, local groups face fines of around $2,500 while foreigners can be evicted. In both instances, staff face further criminal prosecution.

“It is going to criminalise the freedom of association and assembly.”

Vague definitions:
The law’s vague definitions of NGOs and associations could be used as a catchall to target any association of people, no matter how small or informal, Panha said.

“Working groups, community based organisations, platforms, neighbourhood clubs . . . they can all be interpreted as NGOs.’’

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/top-concerns