Candlelight vice president Thach Setha was arrested Monday evening in an alleged check bouncing case and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, according to a police spokesperson.
Lawsuits against opposition leaders and Hun Sen’s threat of violence this week has small party leaders and observers concerned that any dissent directed at him and his party has effectively been criminalized six months ahead of a national election.
Hun Sen has decided to drop a government lawsuit against senior opposition official Kong Korm over possession of land that belongs to the Foreign Ministry, potentially ending a weeklong saga where the prime minister has targeted the Candlelight Party adviser.
Senior opposition official Kong Korm has been slapped with another lawsuit claiming $1 million in damages by the Foreign Ministry for registering ministry land as personally owned, an issue first raised by the prime minister in a tirade on Monday.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party is suing opposition leader Kong Korm for incitement for comments he made about the party at a meeting he attended in Tbong Khmum province last week.
Cambodia’s opposition parties must not criticize the ruling Cambodian People’s Party or question their election victories, said Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday, even threatening legal action against any such dissent.
A Candlelight Party member and former CNRP commune chief was arrested in Kampong Speu’s Baset district for allegedly clearing community forest land.
Minor party leaders say voting irregularities they flagged after last year’s commune election have not been addressed by the National Election Committee, which has ignored most of their suggestions for electoral reform.
Hun Sen warned his nephew Hun Chea and an alleged lover to end their relationship, publicly naming the woman and revealing her Facebook account at a government event.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party continued to maintain a tight grip on power this year and showed little inclination easing pressure on political opponents and dissidents.
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