Cambodia senate okays state of emergency law

This handout photo taken and released by the Cambodia National Assembly on April 10, 2020 shows Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Kheng (left) voting alongside lawmakers at the National Assembly during discussion on a law on governing the country in a state of emergency, as authorities seek to halt the spread of Covid-19, in Phnom Penh. - AFP

PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/ANN): The Senate on Friday (April 17) gave its nod to the state of emergency draft law. In an extraordinary session chaired by its acting president Sim Ka, the Senate said the bill provides solid legal foundation for the government to govern the country with drastic measures in a state of emergency in accordance with the Constitution.

The bill, it said, empowers the two legislative bodies to monitor and evaluate the government's implementation of the law to prevent abuses of its authority.