14.01.2021
07:55
Hello and welcome to the details of Cambodia resumes mass trial of opposition figures and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari – Sana'a – Jailed opposition members and activists walk from a prison van in front of Phnom Penh municipal court in Phnom Penh January 14, 2021. — AFP pic
PHNOM PENH, Jan 14 — A closed-door mass trial of 150 Cambodian opposition figures resumed in Phnom Penh today, in what critics labelled a politically motivated sham and an affront to human rights and the rule of law.
The case is linked to attempts by exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia in 2019 from France, where he has lived since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions that he says are bogus.
Many of the defendants stand accused of sharing messages on social media platforms supporting Rainsy’s attempt to enter the kingdom.
Prime Minister Hun Sen is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, maintaining a 35-year grip on power with methods that include jailing political opponents and activists.
Many of the accused in today’s trial have connections to Rainsy’s Cambodia National Rescue Party — which a court dissolved in November 2017 — while others are human rights activists.
The charges vary and include “plotting”, “incitement to commit a felony”, “inciting military personnel to disobedience” and a raft of “criminal attempt” offences under Cambodia’s criminal code.
Those convicted of “criminal attempt” charges face up to 30 years in prison.
Police and security guards removed defendants’ supporters from around the courthouse today, dragging away the tearful wife of a defendant as she tried to catch a glimpse of her husband, held in custody since May.
“My husband is standing trial in the court,” the woman, Prum Chantha, shouted at the guards. “I want to meet him, but you guys block me. I feel pain.”
Theary Seng, a US-Cambodian human rights activist facing treason and incitement charges, was defiant as she walked into court.
“In a society that we call a democracy, I have the right to express my opinions, to express political opinions but I am being persecuted,” she told reporters.
“Mr Hun Sen is not the owner of my life. He will not intimidate me with these charges. I will face them and because they are a sham, they are not real charges.”
Human rights campaign group Amnesty International said it feared those accused had little hope of a fair trial.
“These mass trials are an affront to international fair trial standards, Cambodia’s human rights commitments and the rule of law,” a spokesman said.
“This onslaught of cases is the culmination of a relentless campaign of persecution against Cambodia’s political opposition and other dissenting voices.”
Amnesty said some exiled opposition MPs facing charges had been denied entry into the country to defend themselves.
Further hearings are scheduled for later in January and March. — AFP
These were the details of the news Cambodia resumes mass trial of opposition figures for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new. It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available at Malay Mail and the editorial team at AlKhaleej Today has confirmed it and it has been modified, and it may have been completely transferred or quoted from it and you can read and follow this news from its main source.
