A statement issued this week by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern "about the escalating atmosphere of intimidation of opposition politicians, their supporters, civil society, and peaceful demonstrators in Cambodia."
It noted "a host of legal charges" faced by Kem Sokha and 29 other opposition supporters.
 |
| Supporters of Cambodia's main opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party listen to the party's deputy leader Kem
Sokha during his speech at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. Cambodia's government and its
opposition faced off in court and on the streets Friday as political
tensions around challenges to Prime Minister Hun Sen's long-standing
autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Heng Sinith
AP Photo |
Cambodian opposition leader gets 5-month jail sentence
A Cambodian opposition leader was sentenced to five months in jail
Friday in the latest faceoff between the government and opposition as
political tensions over challenges to Prime Minister Hun Sen's
longstanding autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Miami Herald | 9 Sept. 2016
 |
| Heng Sinith AP Photo |
 |
| Heng Sinith AP Photo |
 |
| Kem Sokha, center, deputy leader of the
Cambodia National Rescue Party, gestures as he speaks at the party's
headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. Cambodia's
government and its opposition faced off in court and on the streets
Friday as political tensions around challenges to Prime Minister Hun
Sen's long-standing autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Heng Sinith
AP Photo |
 |
| Cambodia's main opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party Deputy President Kem Sokha waves as he delivers a speech at
the party headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016.
Cambodia's government and its opposition faced off in court and on the
streets Friday as political tensions around challenges to Prime Minister
Hun Sen's long-standing autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Heng Sinith
AP Photo |
 |
| Supporters of Cambodia's main opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party listen to the party's deputy leader Kem
Sokha during his speech at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. Cambodia's government and its
opposition faced off in court and on the streets Friday as political
tensions around challenges to Prime Minister Hun Sen's long-standing
autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Heng Sinith
AP Photo |
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
A Cambodian opposition leader was sentenced to five months in jail
Friday in the latest faceoff between the government and opposition as
political tensions over challenges to Prime Minister Hun Sen's
longstanding autocratic rule show no signs of easing.
Sam Sokong, a defense lawyer for Kem Sokha, deputy leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, said they will appeal the verdict, which followed a trial that lasted only several hours.
"The trial conducted today did not comply with procedures," he said.
Kem Sokha, who was not in court, was convicted of twice ignoring a summons to answer questions related to a case involving his alleged mistress. He refused, saying the legal moves were part of the ruling party's attempt to cripple the opposition.
Riot police were outside the court, and nearly 1,000 opposition supporters gathered in front of their party headquarters, with riot police watching them from about 500 meters (yards) away. There were no reports of violence.
Opposition lawmaker Ou Chanrith said the party was not surprised by the verdict, and urged supporters to continue challenging government suppression.
The case is one of several hanging over opposition leaders in what is generally seen as an attempt to disrupt their organizing efforts ahead of local elections next June. The next general election is not until the middle of 2018, but holding power at the local level is an advantage when national polls are held.
Before the verdict, Kem Sokha appeared before his supporters and accused the government of using the courts to stop him from speaking out and prevent him from taking part in the elections.
A statement issued this week by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern "about the escalating atmosphere of intimidation of opposition politicians, their supporters, civil society, and peaceful demonstrators in Cambodia."
It noted "a host of legal charges" faced by Kem Sokha and 29 other opposition supporters.
It said 14 of them had been given heavy prison sentences despite raise serious concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. "We urge the authorities to adhere strictly to international fair trial standards during the criminal proceedings," it said.
One victim of the legal moves has been opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who did not return from a trip abroad last November when an old conviction for defamation was restored and his parliamentary immunity was stripped by the government's legislative majority. It had been generally assumed that the conviction, carrying a two-year prison sentence, had been lifted by a 2013 pardon which allowed Sam Rainsy to return from a previous period of self-exile. He also faces a stack of separate charges that could put him away for 17 years.
Activists and non-governmental organizations, which are generally critical of the government, have come in for similar kinds of legal pressures. Physical force has also been applied. Two opposition lawmakers were beaten up by a pro-government mob last year, and the murder in July of a prominent social critic, Kem Ley, allegedly by a man to whom he owed money, is widely regarded with suspicion.
The opposition has called on its followers to turn out to protest. It has strong support in the capital, and street demonstrations have traditionally been an effective form of push-back. But recent efforts to take to the streets have been thwarted by a government show of force.
Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades. But in a general election in 2013, it seemed his grip on power was shaken when the Cambodia National Rescue Party mounted a strong challenge, winning 55 seats in the National Assembly and leaving Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party with 68. The opposition claimed they had been cheated and staged a boycott of parliament. Seeking to shore up his legitimacy, Hun Sen reached a political truce with them in 2014, making some minor concessions over electoral and parliamentary procedures.
But relations between the government and the opposition deteriorated last year after the opposition tried to exploit a volatile issue by accusing neighboring Vietnam, with which Hun Sen's government maintains good relations, of land encroachment. The move proved politically popular, and the government reacted by stepping up intimidation of the opposition party in the courts, which are seen as being under its influence.
Hun Sen's party has often been accused in the past of using violence or the threat of violence against opponents, but in recent years has stalked its foes mostly in the courts.
Sam Sokong, a defense lawyer for Kem Sokha, deputy leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, said they will appeal the verdict, which followed a trial that lasted only several hours.
"The trial conducted today did not comply with procedures," he said.
Kem Sokha, who was not in court, was convicted of twice ignoring a summons to answer questions related to a case involving his alleged mistress. He refused, saying the legal moves were part of the ruling party's attempt to cripple the opposition.
Riot police were outside the court, and nearly 1,000 opposition supporters gathered in front of their party headquarters, with riot police watching them from about 500 meters (yards) away. There were no reports of violence.
Opposition lawmaker Ou Chanrith said the party was not surprised by the verdict, and urged supporters to continue challenging government suppression.
The case is one of several hanging over opposition leaders in what is generally seen as an attempt to disrupt their organizing efforts ahead of local elections next June. The next general election is not until the middle of 2018, but holding power at the local level is an advantage when national polls are held.
Before the verdict, Kem Sokha appeared before his supporters and accused the government of using the courts to stop him from speaking out and prevent him from taking part in the elections.
A statement issued this week by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern "about the escalating atmosphere of intimidation of opposition politicians, their supporters, civil society, and peaceful demonstrators in Cambodia."
It noted "a host of legal charges" faced by Kem Sokha and 29 other opposition supporters.
It said 14 of them had been given heavy prison sentences despite raise serious concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. "We urge the authorities to adhere strictly to international fair trial standards during the criminal proceedings," it said.
One victim of the legal moves has been opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who did not return from a trip abroad last November when an old conviction for defamation was restored and his parliamentary immunity was stripped by the government's legislative majority. It had been generally assumed that the conviction, carrying a two-year prison sentence, had been lifted by a 2013 pardon which allowed Sam Rainsy to return from a previous period of self-exile. He also faces a stack of separate charges that could put him away for 17 years.
Activists and non-governmental organizations, which are generally critical of the government, have come in for similar kinds of legal pressures. Physical force has also been applied. Two opposition lawmakers were beaten up by a pro-government mob last year, and the murder in July of a prominent social critic, Kem Ley, allegedly by a man to whom he owed money, is widely regarded with suspicion.
The opposition has called on its followers to turn out to protest. It has strong support in the capital, and street demonstrations have traditionally been an effective form of push-back. But recent efforts to take to the streets have been thwarted by a government show of force.
Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades. But in a general election in 2013, it seemed his grip on power was shaken when the Cambodia National Rescue Party mounted a strong challenge, winning 55 seats in the National Assembly and leaving Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party with 68. The opposition claimed they had been cheated and staged a boycott of parliament. Seeking to shore up his legitimacy, Hun Sen reached a political truce with them in 2014, making some minor concessions over electoral and parliamentary procedures.
But relations between the government and the opposition deteriorated last year after the opposition tried to exploit a volatile issue by accusing neighboring Vietnam, with which Hun Sen's government maintains good relations, of land encroachment. The move proved politically popular, and the government reacted by stepping up intimidation of the opposition party in the courts, which are seen as being under its influence.
Hun Sen's party has often been accused in the past of using violence or the threat of violence against opponents, but in recent years has stalked its foes mostly in the courts.
Ah Kouk Hun Sen is the law and the law enforcer in Cambodia. The worst thing is that he is a Yuon's puppet.
ReplyDeleteThe evil Yuon had lost many soldiers during its invasion to conquer Cambodia in 1978.
While Khmer Pouch Neak Chambang wanted to liberate Cambodia from Yuon Vietnam without losing any people. Keep dreaming Khmer Pouch Neak Chambang, you will accomplish nothing without any ultimate sacrifice.
The key for Cambodia's survival is knowing WHEN to make their ultimate sacrifice.
Personally, I think the right time to sacrifice our life to save Cambodia is when the CNRP won the 2018 election and the CPP refused to relinquish the power.
First step first: stay united to win this next election. Then make a peaceful demonstration demanding the loser CPP to transfer the power.
If the CPP opts to suppress violently the demonstration and kills thousands of people, then the signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord will have no choice but to intervene to help Khmer people one more time.
This time we will not screw thing up like we did in 1993 because AH Prett Sihanouk had already gone to hell.
Ah Kouk Hun Sen is the law and the law enforcer in Cambodia. The worst thing is that he is a Yuon's puppet.
ReplyDeleteThe evil Yuon had lost many soldiers during its invasion to conquer Cambodia in 1978.
While Khmer Pouch Neak Chambang wanted to liberate Cambodia from Yuon Vietnam without losing any people. Keep dreaming Khmer Pouch Neak Chambang, you will accomplish nothing without any ultimate sacrifice.
The key for Cambodia's survival is knowing WHEN to make their ultimate sacrifice.
Personally, I think the right time to sacrifice our life to save Cambodia is when the CNRP won the 2018 election and the CPP refused to relinquish the power.
First step first: stay united to win this next election. Then make a peaceful demonstration demanding the loser CPP to transfer the power.
If the CPP opts to suppress violently the demonstration and kills thousands of people, then the signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord will have no choice but to intervene to help Khmer people one more time.
This time we will not screw thing up like we did in 1993 because AH Prett Sihanouk had already gone to hell.
CPP is so smart. They will just wait for the protesters to go home then arrest Kem Sokha. The protesters will get tired then go home. Kem Sokha cannot hide forever.
ReplyDeleteLet me guess the actual move. CPP will play dumb and let Kem Sokha to escape, then do a man hunt. Kem Sokha will look like a coward.
If CPP actually arrests Kem Sokha, he will have no choice but becomes a martyr. Give him a choice, he will do the wrong thing. Think about it, 5 months in prison means no sex with the young girls. That's cruel and unusual punishment against Kem Sokha.
The Beast Regime is cruel indeed, denying the man's basic need.
And you, 8:19 AM, known as -Drgunzet- can run but cannot hide. We all know who you are. You are here just to sabotage. Dropping your infamous nom-de-plume already? Why?
DeleteRacist -Drgunzet-!!!
DeleteY'all think I am Drgunzet. Why?
ReplyDeleteអាកន្តបឯង រត់មិនរួច ពីដៃអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិទេអាស្រកីដូង!!!
DeleteWe must go to other forums to rally posters to come here. We must defend against Drgunzet.
ReplyDeleteNo need to waste time on this racist -Drgunzet-. We know who he is already.
Deleteអាយួន កន្តប អាស្រកីដូង -Drgunzet-! it has your name written all over it. We know your style, your tricks too well already! Don't ever think that you can fool anybody ever to come here to debate with you, you racist អាកន្តប អាស្រកីដូង!!!
DeleteYuon dog drFuck-it is senile and cannot learn new or better tricks.
DeleteThis dog runs around looking for spoiled dog bones.