Phnom Penh, 3 March 2023 (GNP): Kem Sokha, the most famous opposition figure in Cambodia has been given a 27-year house jail term for treason. He was charged with collaborating with foreign governments to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s administration.
With his reign beginning in 1985, Hun Sen is one of the world’s most enduring autocrats. A general election will take place in Cambodia in July. Most people anticipate that Hun Sen will run the government again, although some think he intends to cede control to his eldest Son, Hun Manet.
Kem Sokha was initially detained in 2017, based on a 2013 video in which he claimed to have received funding from American pro-democracy organizations.
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A ban on his party was imposed before the 2018 election. The majority of its leaders have either been prosecuted or sent into exile.
“It was evident from the start that the allegations against Kem Sokha were nothing but a politically motivated scheme by Prime Minister Hun Sen to sideline Cambodia’s key opposition leader and dismantle the country’s democratic system,” said Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch of Asia.
“It’s not just about dismantling Kem Sokha’s political party, it’s also about killing any possibility of a real general election in July”, he further added.
The accusations against him have been criticized by human rights organizations and Western nations as being unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
According to the Court, Kem Sokha is not permitted to engage in any political action, including voting, and is only permitted to interact with family members. Only with the court’s approval he is permitted to leave the residence.
