Cambodian PM defends ongoing legal actions against opposition leader, party

Cambodian PM defends ongoing legal actions against opposition leader, party

 Xinhua / Global Times | 18 October 2017

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Wednesday defended the government's legal actions against main opposition leader Kem Sokha and his party. 

He said the legal actions were made because Kem Sokha, president of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), committed treasonous acts and his party also got involved in the acts. 

"If you do nothing wrong, no one does anything on you," Hun Sen said in a speech during a visit to about 15,000 garment factory workers in western Phnom Penh suburb. 

The prime minister advised the CNRP to hire smart lawyers to defend Kem Sokha in court, rather than calling on the international community to put pressures on the Cambodian government. 

Hun Sen also slammed the United States for its call renewal on Cambodia's government to release Kem Sokha and for criticizing the government for filing a complaint with the Supreme Court requesting the dissolution of the CNRP. 

Kem Sokha was arrested on Sept. 3 in Phnom Penh for allegedly plotting the overthrow of the government with the US support. He was accused of treason, the charge that could face up to 30 years in prison. 

On Oct. 6, the Cambodian government filed a complaint to the Supreme Court requesting the dissolution of the CNRP after Kem Sokha was charged with treason.