A ministry of Interior working group on Tuesday resumed discussions on the drafting of a law on public order, while a civil society group called for the new legislation to be in line with international human rights laws and made in consultation with the public.

Chaired by Ouk Kim Lek, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior, the meeting was attended by a number of the government’s leading legal experts.

Kim Lek told The Post on Wednesday that the working group was in the early stages of looking at similar laws in other countries and situations in Cambodia which would come under such legislation.

He said the law would cover all aspects of public order and would complement existing legal provision. “This law will complement others such as the Road Traffic Law, but not interfere with them.

“It would work intertwined with other laws. For example, it would regulate street-side businesses on pavements that obstruct traffic. Therefore, selling goods on the pavement would come under this law,” Kim Lek said.

He said Cambodia is yet to have clear regulations regarding certain aspects of public order, such as allowing cattle to walk freely on public streets in towns, driving while improperly dressed, drink driving, public nuisance and the loud playing of music that affects others.

“The aim of this law is to keep good public order, such as littering in parks – this is related to public order,” he said.

Ly Chan Tola, deputy chief of the team of legal experts at the Council of Ministers, who is a member of the draft law working group, said the team had just resumed work following a short delay while changes were made to its membership.

He said that while the government has issued sub-decrees on public order since 1994, with the Criminal Code also used, a complete law in this area had yet to be brought in.

Ministry of Interior spokesperson Phat Sophanit said the working group had determined the responsibilities of its members and was yet to start work on the law. Outlines to the draft law were therefore yet to be laid, he said.

Chak Sopheap, the executive director of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), said she could not comment on the law as work on it had only just begun.

However, she called on the government to ensure that all new laws or amendments to existing legislation complied with international human rights laws and standards on fundamental freedoms.

“We also call on the government to ensure that these legislative developments are drafted with transparent and meaningful consultation with the public and civil society,” she said.

Political analyst Lao Mong Hay said he welcomed the government’s initiative and that “the government should widely disseminate a detailed outline of this law and urge the public to debate it, and seek their input in its drafting”.