Cambodia opposition leader given 27-year sentence for treason

BBC reported that Cambodia’s most prominent opposition leader has been sentenced to 27 years under house arrest for treason.

Kem Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party, has also been barred from standing or voting in elections. He was accused of conspiring with foreign powers to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government.

Hun Sen is one of the world’s longest-serving autocrats, who has been in power since 1985. Cambodia will hold a general election in July. Most expect he will run again, although some believe he is planning to hand over power to his eldest son, Hun Manet.

Kem Sokha, 69, was first arrested in 2017, based on a 2013 video where he said he had got support from US pro-democracy groups. He and his lawyers have denied the charges and said the case against him was baseless.

W Patrick Murphy, the US ambassador to Cambodia, said on Friday that the case was a miscarriage of justice.

Kem Sokha’s lawyer, Ang Udom, said his legal team would appeal against the verdict, Reuters news agency reported.

Human rights groups and Western governments have condemned the charges against him as unfounded and politically motivated.