US, Cambodia in War of Words Over Detained Opposition Leader
Cambodia and the United States sparred this weekend over comments
appearing on a U.S. embassy Facebook page criticizing the Cambodian
government’s continued detention of the leader of a now-banned
opposition party.
The unsigned Feb. 15 posting called former Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha an innocent man, detained on “unjust charges,” and noted he has now been held either in jail or under house arrest for nearly 18 months.
Cambodia National Rescue Party president Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017 on treason charges widely seen as politically motivated, and the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP two months later for its part in an alleged plot to topple the government.
The move banned the opposition party’s candidates from taking part in a July 29, 2018 general election, which Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) then steamrolled without any viable opponent.
Denied bail six times, Kem Sokha was finally released from pre-trial detention on Sept. 10, 2018 but must now stay within a block radius of his home, cannot meet with CNRP officials or foreigners, and cannot take part in or host any rallies or political activities.
The unsigned Feb. 15 posting called former Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha an innocent man, detained on “unjust charges,” and noted he has now been held either in jail or under house arrest for nearly 18 months.
Cambodia National Rescue Party president Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017 on treason charges widely seen as politically motivated, and the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP two months later for its part in an alleged plot to topple the government.
The move banned the opposition party’s candidates from taking part in a July 29, 2018 general election, which Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) then steamrolled without any viable opponent.
Denied bail six times, Kem Sokha was finally released from pre-trial detention on Sept. 10, 2018 but must now stay within a block radius of his home, cannot meet with CNRP officials or foreigners, and cannot take part in or host any rallies or political activities.
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