Civil society observers welcomed the justice minister’s call to root out corruption in the courts, but said challenges could remain to remove politics from the country’s judiciary.
Three former opposition CNRP youth members have defected to the ruling party, including a woman who previously presented the nightly news on party co-founder Sam Rainsy’s Facebook page and, according to Rainsy, had received refugee status after fleeing to Thailand to escape incitement and plotting charges.
Ruling party spokesmen say succession by CPP progeny is underway, based on merit, with the announcement of promotions for three sons of late deputy prime minister Sok An.
Ruling party and civil society leaders on Friday expressed regret over the announced closure of the Swedish Embassy next year, with concerns raised over diplomatic relations and funding for human rights work.
A recent wave of arrests of youth activists show the government’s fear of outspoken dissidents, and the potential for small demonstrations to become large-scale protests, political activists and analysts say, while a ruling party official denied any such fear yet suggested that the CPP intended to put out a “fire” before it spread.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son General Hun Manet has been appointed to lead the ruling CPP’s purported 1.8 million-strong youth movement, a promotion that one analyst called a “preparation” for Manet to one day lead the nation.
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.
After almost 30 detentions and more than 150 summonses of opposition members and supporters this year, politicians and analysts are drumming up debate over the dangers facing the country.
About 200 supporters joined former opposition leader Sam Rainsy on the U.S.’s Capitol Hill calling for sanctions against the Cambodian government.
At the urging of party leaders, political activists across the country gathered to eat num banh chok on Sunday, June 9.
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