Conviction Evidence of Government Attempt to Remove Sam Rainsy From Politics

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

CONVICTION EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE SAM RAINSY FROM POLITICS

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) condemns today’s political ruling by the Phnom Penh Capital Court of First that found Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy guilty of falsifying public documents and disinformation. The verdict provides further evidence that the Cambodian judiciary is being used as a political tool of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to undermine legitimate political opposition. In this instance, the misuse of the courts may have ended the career of one of Cambodia’s most popular politicians.

The charges related to Sam Rainsy’s alleged alteration of a United Nations map of Cambodia to falsely show an encroachment onto Cambodian territory by Vietnam, which he subsequently posted on the Sam Rainsy Party website. However, the CCHR notes with concern that only limited documentary evidence and testimony supporting this allegation was presented at trial. Sam Rainsy, who was tried in absentia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for falsification of public documents and disinformation, and ordered to pay a 5 million riel fine and 60 million riels in compensation to the RGC for both offences. The lack of legal basis on which the verdict was reached and the severity of the sentence imposed underscores the political nature of the trial and sends a clear message to opposition parliamentarians and others willing to question the policies and actions of the RGC.

Today’s conviction is another in a series of politicised judicial measures against Sam Rainsy. In January, Rainsy was convicted of disinformation and inciting racial discrimination and, as reported in The Phnom Penh Post on Tuesday, a court summons for Rainsy has been issued dating back to a two year old defamation and disinformation complaint filed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. The CCHR calls on the RGC to end its use of the judicial system as a political tool to attack the opposition and to silence dissenting opinion. Cambodia needs active opposition parties to provide a strong, stable, multiparty democracy in the Kingdom, and an independent and impartial judiciary to uphold rule of law.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ou Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12 404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org