Cambodia PM denies 'international pressure' behind release of opposition leader
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen batted down speculation yesterday that he caved to international pressure after an opposition leader was released from jail, claiming the decision was made for his ailing foe's health and safety. Kem Sokha, the co-founder of the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, was arrested on treason charges in Sep'17 two months before the Supreme Court dissolved his party. Here's more.
Hun Sen won election in July after sweeping crackdown
The move came during a sweeping crackdown led by the 66-year-old strongman, Hun Sen, and paved the way for an easy election victory in July that was lambasted as a sham. But in the aftermath of the vote, Hun Sen has returned to a pattern of easing up on dissent and scores of activists and former opposition members have been freed.
Theories after Sokha's release: Sen was worried about clothing industry
Sokha was the most prominent of those let go and his September 10 release on bail fueled theories that Sen was worried about the country's large clothing industry losing duty-free access to European markets. European parliamentarians have floated the possibility of revisiting trade scheme.
Decision to release Sokha was taken on humanitarian ground: Sen
But Sen, who has been in power for more than 33 years, told garment workers that he did not bow to "international pressure". "It was just the change of the location of detention in case he (Sokha) dies in prison and causes trouble to the government," Sen said. He added that the decision was prompted by "humanitarian and safety concerns for the suspect".
Sokha supposed to stay within block radius of his residence
Sokha, 65, spent more than a year in a remote prison near the Vietnamese border. Over the course of his detention, he was repeatedly denied bail even as his lawyers pointed to Sokha's high blood pressure and diabetes. The conditions of his bail are severe. He is supposed to stay within a block radius of his residence and is forbidden to meet with foreigners.
Cambodian People's Party says it won over 80% of vote
The United States (US) has expanded travel sanctions against the senior Cambodian officials in response to the election but so far the country has received little real blowback for the deeply flawed poll. The ruling Cambodian People's Party says it won more than 80% of the vote and all seats in parliament, turning Cambodia into a one-party state.
Election was marred by the absence of critical contender: Critics
But critics claim the election was marred by the absence of any credible contender and voter intimidation in the run-up to the poll. Before its dissolution, Sokha's party had posed the biggest threat to Sen, winning over 43% of the vote in 2013 election.
