Legal cases mount against Cambodia opposition leader

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

Cambodia’s self-exiled opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has been charged with defamation by the country’s National Assembly president -- the latest in a growing line of cases against him.

The Phnom Penh Post on Thursday said the latest charge, which was issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor, relates to allegations made by Rainsy in a Facebook post late last year when he accused Heng Samrin of being responsible for the political demise of the late king, Norodom Sihanouk.

The post from Nov. 17 2015 -- which still appears on his page -- features a video clip of Sihanouk making a speech in which he uses the derogatory term “Yuon” to describe Vietnamese people.

“We remember that the regime born on 7 January 1979 used their tribunal to sentence our late King H.M. Norodom Sihanouk to death by accusing him of being a traitor,” he adds.

The Cambodia Daily said part of the speech referred to the Vietnamese sending people to be part of “Samrin’s army” -- who was the president at the time.

Thursday's charge is the latest in a string of legal cases mounting up against Rainsy -- currently in exile to avoid a prison sentence brought against him by the outgoing Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

Rainsy has also been accused of defamation for implying -- via Facebook -- that another government official was trying to secure more “likes” for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook page.

Just last week, Namhong filed fresh defamation allegations against Rainsy for doubling-down on claims he made that the minister served as a prisoner of privilege in a notorious Khmer Rouge prison camp.

In addition, Rainsy has also been evicted for another Facebook case after sharing a video containing a fake copy of the border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Yim Sovann, spokesman for Rainsy’s Cambodia National Rescue Party, could not be reached by Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

But United Nations human rights envoy Rhona Smith, in wrap-up remarks delivered at the end of her second mission to Cambodia, expressed concern at the use of the courts to target members of the opposition early Thursday.

“What is potentially of concern is the perceived restriction on members of the opposition that these court cases are causing; restrictions that are not currently being imposed similarly on members of the other political parties in Cambodia,” she said.

“There is certainly concern on use of the law as a political tool and not a legal tool in securing justice.”