cambodian peoples party
Candlelight Party vice president Son Chhay joins a party rally in Preah Vihear province in May 2022. (Ananth Baliga/VOD)

Son Chhay Returns to Face Defamation Lawsuit

Opposition Candlelight Party vice president Son Chhay returned from Australia to Cambodia on Sunday and will face lawsuits lodged over his claim of vote-stealing, including a $1-million suit brought against him by the ruling CPP.

Candlelight commune candidate But Pov looks out at her farm land on May 29, 2022. (Roun Ry/VOD)

In Pursat, Flooded Forest Crackdown Takes Center Stage Before Election

Across Kandieng district in Pursat, people described living through a crackdown on flooded-forest farming and fishing that seemed inconsistent and designed to intimidate, in several cases becoming entwined with politics ahead of the June 5 commune election.