(5 May 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – 5 May 2025
1. Various of Rong Chhun, Cambodian opposition politician, walking by courthouse
2. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Rong Chhun, Cambodian opposition politician: ++STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY SHOT 3++
“It’s not a law enforcement issue. It’s about politics. But disqualifying my rights to vote is an injustice. But I will discuss it with my lawyer and I will appeal, even though we have no confidence in this legal system, we will still appeal.”
3. Various of Rong Chhun waiting outside courthouse with supporters
4. Rong Chhun in vehicle waving and leaving
STORYLINE:
A Cambodian court on Monday convicted a prominent opposition politician of incitement and sentenced him to four years in prison, in the latest legal move to stifle critics of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s.
Rong Chhun, a top advisor to Cambodia’s newly formed Nation Power Party, was found guilty of inciting social unrest related to his political activity for meeting with villagers displaced by government construction projects, including the new Phnom Penh International Airport.
In addition to the jail term, he was barred from running for office and from voting.
The 56-year-old had denied the incitement charge, saying all he did was post photos of himself with the villagers and comments on Facebook.
“This is not a law enforcement issue,” Rong Chhun told reporters in Phnom Penh after the verdict. "It’s about politics."
He remains free for a month with the opportunity to file an appeal during that time and said he would do so.
Incitement allegations are frequently used by authorities in Cambodia against opponents.
Rong Chhun was already sentenced to two years for incitement in 2021, on accusations he spread false information about Cambodia’s border with Vietnam after meeting with farmers in the area.
He was released later the same year by an appeals court.
Cambodia’s government has long been accused of using the judicial system to persecute critics and political opponents.
It insists it promotes the rule of law under an electoral democracy, but political parties seen as mounting strong challenges to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party have been dissolved by the courts or had their leaders jailed or harassed.
AP video shot by Sopheng Cheang
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