Cambodia: Opposition leader found guilty of defaming prime minister

Event

On Friday, December 29, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found political opposition leader Sam Rainsy guilty of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen. The court ordered Rainsy to pay USD 1 million in damages as well as a USD 2500 fine. Protests in support of Rainsy may occur in Phnom Penh in the coming days.

Context

Sen filed the lawsuit against Rainsy in January 2017, after the opposition leader accused him of bribing an activist to break up the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Rainsy was the head of the CNRP until resigning in February amid increasingly severe legal threats targeting the party. The CNRP, the main political opposition party in the country, was dissolved by the Supreme Court on November 16 after being accused of plotting to topple the government. Outside of the CNRP, there are no significant competitors to the government ahead of elections in 2018.

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.