A mass trial of critics and opponents of Cambodia’s government charged with treason for their nonviolent political activities resumed Tuesday, amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
Only six of 44 defendants summoned by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court turned up at Tuesday’s session, said defense lawyer Sam Sokong. The trial had been suspended for more than a year due to coronavirus restrictions.
The case, which comes amid a wave of setbacks for democratic reformers in Southeast Asia, is a reminder that many governments in the region use the judiciary to harass and punish their opponents.
