Cambodia is unlikely to see the return of mass protests this year, but with dialogue between the country’s ruling and opposition parties having broken down, political arrests will continue to stand in the way of peace, according to a report released on Wednesday.
In its annual Global Peace Index, the Institute for Economics and Peace gave Cambodia a slightly lower score than in 2015—though it rose slightly in the overall rankings—due to recent political turbulence.
“Political instability has hampered peace in Cambodia. The rapprochement appears to have ended between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which may influence internal conflict indicators in the coming year,” the report says.
“The likelihood of mass anti-government protests is remote but the number of people unjustifiably detained will no doubt continue to increase.”
More than 20 government critics have been arrested in the past year alone, and rights group Licadho has placed the number of political prisoners at 29.
Cambodia is ranked 104 out of 163 countries in the peace index, up from the 111th spot last year. Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, according to the index, and Syria the least.
The index is based on “23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources” and looks at “three broad themes: the level of safety and security in society; the extent of domestic or international conflict; and the degree of militarization.”
Sok Eysan, spokesman for the ruling CPP, said the index completely missed the mark.
“Obviously, this report is exaggerating the situation because there are not hot issues,” in the country, he said. “People are all together in harmony.”
Mr. Eysan said the CPP was open to talks with the CNRP but did not have anything to discuss at the moment.
“Nobody has been arrested and detained unjustifiably,” he said.
“You can go to the market, we all can see the market activities—selling and buying and the usual trade, while taxi drivers and moto-taxi drivers do their jobs as usual—because there is no instability at all.”
