Hundreds of protesters, including NGO-CEDAW staff and members, gathered outside the National Assembly today to express opposition to the new draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations.  The government suggested that the law would soon pass as written without further changes.  The current draft has burdensome requirements for registering both Cambodian and foreign associations and NGOs and stops any group from holding activities without meeting all of the requirements.  Moreover, individuals can be banned for life from founding new associations if they ever led or founded a group that was removed from the registry.  Removal can be ordered for vague reasons such as harming national unity.