Kem Sokha's sentence is 'ridiculous' attempt to eradicate opposition in Cambodia
Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha's sentence of house arrest for 27 years is a repeat of 2018 pre-election tactics, says his daughter.
Cambodia's most prominent opposition leader, Kem Sokha, has been sentenced to 27 years under house arrest in what critics of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government say was a politically-motivated trial.
Kem Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party, has also been barred from standing or voting in the upcoming general election in July.
He denies charges he conspired with foreign powers to overthrow the government.
Kem Sokha's eldest daughter Kem Monovithya is the Deputy Director-General of Public Affairs at the Cambodia National Rescue Party.
She told 麻豆社 Newsday about the charge brought against her father, and why it does not stand up to scrutiny.
鈥淐onspiring with the US to overthrown the Cambodian government... this is obviously a fabricated politically-motivated case. There's a general election coming up... this is another tactic to completely eradicate any opposition in Cambodia, just like [the authorities] did in 2018 when they arrested him a year before and dissolved our party."
"This is a completely ridiculous case... there is no evidence."
(Pic: Kem Sokha; Credit: Getty Images)
Duration:
This clip is from
More clips from Newsday
-
Military ruler insists all new ministers pass lie detector tests
Duration: 03:01
-
'I immediately called my mother, I told her that I was alive'
Duration: 02:21