Politics

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday his ruling party would be a dominant force in politics for as long as a century, telling the opposition it should wait until the next life if it wants to take power.

Activist Kung Raiya is seeking political asylum in Thailand after he was handed a two-year sentence on charges of incitement for selling T-shirts bearing the image of slain political analyst Kem Ley last year.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday handed down a suspended sentence to dissident Kung Raiya, finding him guilty on charges related to his printing of T-shirts with murdered political analyst Kem Ley’s image and words.

Around 20 family members of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) activists detained in Prey Sar Prison on charges of “incitement to commit a felony” held a rare protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court Friday demanding their immediate and unconditional release.

The disappearance of a Thai dissident living in self-exile in Cambodia after his reported violent abduction in broad daylight in Phnom Penh has sparked outrage in Thailand along with a wave of criticism against the government for its apparent indifference to the case.

The alleged abduction of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit in Cambodia, and the inaction and apparent lack of interest on the part of both governments, has left people around the world to demand urgent action by writing a petition to Cambodian PM Hun Sen calling for an “effective, thorough and transparent” investigation into the disappearance.

The disappearance of a Thai dissident living in self-exile in Cambodia after his reported violent abduction in broad daylight in Phnom Penh has sparked outrage in Thailand along with a wave of criticism against the government.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son unveiled a shipment of 290 Chinese-made military trucks on Thursday, saying the vehicles were not aid from Beijing but gifts from unnamed donors – prompting fears they will be deployed against civilians amid a three-year crackdown on the opposition.

With the deadline of the European Union’s (EU) Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade scheme withdrawal approaching in August, the EU recently pledged to support Cambodia’s economic recovery and job creation hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A French court has charged former opposition leader Sam Rainsy with defamation for claiming that Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the killing of former National Police chief Hok Lundy.

Phnom Penh city governor Khuong Sreng blamed long-running land conflicts in the capital on interference from politicians and supposedly paid protesters, but some civil society members dismissed his claims as a frame-up and deflection.

Sweden has announced a shift of focus of their aid in Cambodia. According to a press statement by the Swedish Foreign Ministry and the Swedish Embassy in Phnom Penh on 12 June 2020, the plan is to ‘out phase’ the funding of bilateral Development to instead focus on promoting human rights, democracy and rule of law.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Wednesday that multilateralism is "indispensable" to deal with future threats like pandemics effectively.

Cambodia’s government must end a crackdown on the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) that has seen 15 former officials and activists detained on “fabricated political charges” since the coronavirus outbreak reached the country in January, a rights group said Wednesday.

The Cambodian government should end its crackdown on the political opposition carried out since the outbreak of Covid-19, Human Rights Watch said today.

The United Nations has given Cambodia until June 24 to investigate and report on the disappearance of Thai pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit.

The Cambodian Police on Tuesday said a car allegedly involved in the abduction of a pro-democracy Thai activist was using fake vehicle registration plates, with a spokesperson saying the investigation had produced no leads so far.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia intergovernmental coordinating committee with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong via video, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday (June 16).

On June 3, self-exiled Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit posted a scathing video on Facebook lambasting Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

Twitter users and celebrities in Thailand demand answers; govt says activist not security threat nor political refugee.