Politics

Ex-Cambodian opposition’s treason appeal process begins

Bangkok, Jan 30 (EFE).- A Cambodian court of justice began Tuesday to hear the appeal presented by the leader of the country’s banned former opposition leader Kem Sokha against his 27-year prison sentence after being found guilty of treason in March 2023.

Sokha appeared early in the morning in front of the Court of Appeals of Phnom Penh, amidst strong security measures, to present his allegations about the crime, which human rights groups have described as a political persecution.

After several hours of hearing, the court scheduled another eight days to hear the allegations of the convicted politician, which will be held until September.

“There’s no way forward for #Cambodia until Kem Sokha is freed and allowed his political rights,” his former opposition ally in self-exile Sam Rainsy wrote Monday on X.

Rights organization Amnesty International said it demanded in a Monday statement that Cambodian authorities revoke the sentence against Sokha and end the repression against opposition groups.

“The conviction and 27-year prison sentence for Sokha, a political opposition leader, shows Cambodian authorities’ disregard for human rights and the rule of law,” wrote the organization’s Regional Director of Research Montse Ferrer, who added that the judicial process’ objective is to silence the opposition.

“Anyone who dares to speak out against the government is at risk. Cambodian authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of everyone in the country including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and end the increasing restriction of civic space,” Ferrer said.

Sokha, disqualified for life from holding political office, is serving his sentence at his home in Phnom Penh, where he was already under house arrest before the trial – which began in 2020 – and where he remains incommunicado.

The 70-year-old opposition leader of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party was arrested in 2017 accused of conspiring with foreigners to overthrow the government of then Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sokha’s arrest was carried out at the behest of Hun Sen – who came to power in 1985 and handed over control of the country last year to his son, Hun Manet – amid a vast offensive against the opposition, NGOs and independent media months before general elections in 2018.

Sokha was arrested after the broadcast of a video in which he appeared telling his followers about having advice from the United States to bring about a change of political regime in the country.

His arrest was followed by the outlawing of his party and the flight from Cambodia of 100 of its leaders, the closure of several independent media outlets and the expulsion of some NGOs.

Hun Sen’s party won all 125 seats in parliament in the 2018 elections, while in July 2023 it also won with a large majority in the elections, held in the absence of a representative opposition, before appointing his first-born son to power a month later. EFE

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