A former CNRP commune councilor was attacked by two unidentified men on a motorbike in Phnom Penh on Monday, adding to a string of assaults on politicians and activists from the banned political party.
UPDATED 9:33 a.m. — U.N. representatives issued a statement on Friday calling the trial of Kem Sokha, the leader of the outlawed opposition, “tainted by irregularities,” and criticized his arrest without a warrant, arbitrary detention and the lack of public access to trial proceedings.
Kem Sokha argued in court on Thursday that his political and NGO activities adhered to democratic and human rights principles, and therefore would not be a crime under the charge of conspiring with a foreign power, according to his lawyers.
Civil society groups on Thursday called on the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to give them and journalists access to the trial of the leader of
UPDATED 11:15 p.m. — The first day of Kem Sokha’s treason trial has wrapped up, with lawyers from both sides — Sokha and the government — saying the court mostly dealt with procedural questions for future hearings. The trial is scheduled to continue in the morning on Thursday.
Justice Ministry spokesman Chin Malin denied that the courts were excluding journalists from opposition leader Kem Sokha’s trial on Wednesday out of principle — they just did not have enough space for them or the equipment to broadcast the proceedings.
Swedish parliamentarian Asa Eriksson told VOD in an interview that Cambodia was “breaking the rules” of the “Everything But Arms” duty-free trade scheme with the E.U. by disrespecting human rights, which could not be tolerated.
Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Thursday called for reforms in the country’s judiciary, which has been ranked among the worst in the world in terms of corruption and government influence.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government has improved democracy, rights and the rule of law in Cambodia — despite “external pressures” — and there was “no justifiable reason” for outsiders to call for “restoring democracy and human rights” in the country.
What lies ahead for Cambodian politics this year is a prolonging of the political quagmire that has dragged down the country for at least two years, according to analysts. Things could eventually improve, but there is no quick fix, they say.
VOD is an independent media outlet producing radio programs and disseminating information to the public via the Internet.
© 2019 VOD. All Rights Reserved.
