Cambodian Senate passes NGO law

The Senate voted 44 to 0 to approve the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations - commonly referred to as LANGO- which international rights groups say will stifle the work of Cambodia's large NGO sector.

Opposition senators from the Sam Rainsy Party boycotted the vote, ensuring that it would pass without any substantive debate. The final step will see King Norodom Sihamoni sign the bill into law.

The draft law has been heavily criticised by the opposition. An official copy has never been released to the public, although leaked versions have circulated on the Internet. Under LANGO, all organisations in the country will be required to register, remain politically neutral, and respect Cambodia's "culture, traditions and customs" according to a draft seen earlier by dpa.

Any organisation that threatens "political security, stability and order" could be refused registration or fined.

Cambodia's government, however, says that such a law is necessary because there is currently no legislation overseeing the thousands of NGOs and associations operating in Cambodia.