In Cambodia, opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years of house arrest for treason. He is also never allowed to hold political office or vote in elections again.
Kem Sokha, leader of the now defunct National Liberation Party of Cambodia (CNRP), was arrested in 2017. He is said to have conspired with the United States to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, according to human rights organizations and the United States, the case is politically motivated.
As evidence of treason, a film was shot in which he told a group of students the advice given by American NGOs on democracy.
Forbidden
The opposition leader was released in 2018, but remains a suspect. During his detention, Cambodia’s Supreme Court banned his party, the only opposition party in parliament.
As a result, there was little opposition to Hun Sen in the 2018 elections. The Prime Minister has been in power since 1985. Under his rule, freedom of the press was curtailed, the internet was heavily censored, and opponents of the regime were silenced.
The process, which was interrupted for two years due to the corona pandemic, started again last year.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
