A Cambodian court has sentenced opposition politician Kem Sokha to 27 years under house arrest for treason. which the US government came out to condemn that It was a politically motivated prosecution. According to Reuters news agency
A court judge in Phnom Penh also said Kem Sokha would not be eligible to run for any elections or exercise the right to vote.
Kem Sokha, leader of the disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in 2017 after being accused of conspired with the United States in overthrowing Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, which he denies all accusations, while Washington has rejected accusations by the Cambodian authorities of an “fabricated conspiracy theory”.
Ang Udom, Khem Sokha’s lawyer, said his legal team would appeal the verdict, stating, “He has been ordered under house arrest. Political rights and civil rights have been stripped away … This is not justice,” he said. The court also allowed his client to contact only family members.
News reports revealed that Security measures are in full swing around the courthouse. by sending hundreds of police officers stationed in the area
Patrick Murphy, the US ambassador to Cambodia, said the case was a failure of the justice system.
Ambassador Murphy also told reporters outside the courthouse that “We call on the authorities to allow Cambodians to exercise their … universal human rights of peaceful assembly and free expression. and participate in building a true democracy as well.”
However, Reuters pointed out that the Phnom Penh government, which is very close to China, tends to ignore US criticism, while a Cambodian government spokesman declined to comment on the case. When the reporter contacted
The CNRP was barred from participating in the 2018 general election, which was won by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
After that, this sect was constantly crushed. Many members of the party fled the country if not arrested. because what activists call a crackdowns aimed at eliminating those who challenge the CPP’s monopoly on power
Cambodia will hold general elections in July. The opposition party that entered the field against the CPP was the Sangthian Party that was launched last year. And most of its members are former CNRP members.
Cambodia has also shut down several media outlets that have criticized Hun Sen and has taken action against dissident groups in recent years.
Last month, Hun Sen shut down the Voice of Democracy, Cambodia’s last independent news organization. by reasoning that The media attacked the Cambodian leader and his son Hun Manet. It also hurt the country.
SEE ALSO: UN calls on Cambodian government to allow media ‘Voice of Democracy’ is open again.
Hun Sen is expected to seek a third term in elections in July. but before Came out to call on the people to support their son. As a potential successor
Human Rights Watch said the Cambodian lawsuit against Khao Sokha was a “politically motivated ploy” by Hun Sen to prevent the opposition from getting in his way and to trample down democracy. too
Phil Robertson, Associate Director of Asia at Human Rights Watch, said: “Sending Kem Sokha to prison is not just a matter of destroying political parties. but also destroys the hope that There will also be a real general election in July.”
- source: Reuters
