Cambodia: Supreme Court dissolves main opposition party /update 5

Event

Cambodia’s Supreme Court officially dissolved the country’s main opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), on Thursday, November 16. The CNRP, accused of plotting to topple the government, has denied the accusation and has denounced the move as politically motivated. The dissolution of the CNRP leaves the government with no significant competitor ahead of next year’s elections. More than 100 CNRP members have been banned from politics for a period of five years, meaning Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled for 32 years, now has no genuine rivals.

Cambodian security forces blocked a road leading to the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh on November 16, in anticipation of protests denouncing the court ruling. Protests remain possible in the coming days.

Context

This decision to ban the CNRP came one day after Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy, former head of the party, announced his return to politics. Rainsy had resigned in February 2017, amid increasingly severe legal threats targeting the party. In September 2017, Cambodian authorities filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the CNRP on the grounds that it was plotting to overthrow the government. On October 31, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal to release CNRP president Kem Sokha (arrested on September 3 on charges of treason and espionage), claiming his release could spark public unrest.

Inter-party tensions have plagued Cambodia over the past several years, exacerbating political instability in the country. The prime minister has been accused of seeking to extend his three-decade rule in spite of the growing popularity of the political opposition, via a political crackdown aimed at silencing critics, the media, and civil society. In early September, the US Embassy in Phnom Penh began to advise foreigners in the country to exercise caution amid rising political tensions and a growing anti-Western sentiment.

Advice

Individuals present in Cambodia, particularly in Phnom Penh, are advised to closely monitor local media for developments to the situation and to avoid all protests, demonstrations, and large crowds due to the risk of violence.