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| Cambodian opposition erects banners urging leader's release |
Cambodian opposition erects banners urging leader's release
AFP / Yahoo News | 25 September 2017
Phnom Penh (AFP) - Cambodia's opposition party on Monday began erecting banners nationwide calling for the release of its leader Kem Sokha, ahead of a bail ruling for the politician who was arrested three weeks ago.
The opposition leader was shunted into a remote prison on treason charges, which his allies have described as part of Premier Hun Sen's sweeping crackdown on dissent in the run-up to 2018 elections.
The self-described strongman has held power for 32 years in the impoverished democracy.
But his popularity slipped in a 2013 election and he has since moved deftly -- often leaning on pliant courts -- to silence critics in politics, the media and NGOs.
On Monday, a day before a court rules on the legality of Kem Sokha's detention, politicians from his embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) erected a large banner outside their headquarters in Phnom Penh.
The mobilisation comes despite Hun Sen's threats to dissolve the party if they continue to "protect" their leader.
The banners show Kem Sokha waving to a sea of supporters during mass protests organised by the CNRP after the 2013 election, which the party accused Hun Sen of manipulating in his favour.
"We will erect the banners at all our offices in other provinces," deputy CNRP leader Pol Ham told reporters.
The goal was to "find justice for president Kem Sokha", added party whip Son Chhay.
Kem Sokha has been charged with conspiring in a "secret plan" with foreign entities that began in 1993.
Hun Sen has accused Washington of backing the alleged plot, sending relations into a tailspin, with the US ambassador denying the allegation as "absurd".
If Kem Sokha is found guilty, the new banners will have to be taken down under legislation banning parties from "using the voice, images or written documents" of anyone convicted of a crime.
That law, passed earlier this year, was aimed squarely at Kem Sokha's predecessor Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile to avoid a string of convictions he says are politically motivated.
The move was the latest in a long list of legal attempts to box the CNRP in, and sent the party scrambling to paint over Sam Rainsy's face on thousands of signs around the country.
Kem Sokha must quickly resign so that CNRP can elect a new leader for next year election. But we all know he would not do so. He is counting on his role and title would continue to protect him.
ReplyDeleteThus, Mr. Hun Sen put Kem Sokha in a big dilemma:
1. Be a hero, resign, lose protection but give CNRP an election chance, a martyr in jail in defiance.
2. Be selfish, stick around, keep the little protection at the cost of next year election for CNRP.
By law, CNRP cannot have Kem Sokha to run the election. Can Kem Sokha do it like Ms. aung san suu kyi? She did not run the election by Myanmar's law, but her party won and she is still the defacto leader?
Of course not, Kem Sokha trusts no one. The moment someone else takes the post of presidency in CNRP, that person will not listen to him. After all, he himself has been a big traitor so a traitor would be suspicious of all others to be traitors.
-Drgunzet-