Cambodian PM Hun Sen
It seems Cambodia’s ruling party, the People’s Party (KPK), might be learning the art of soft authoritarianism – by legal manipulation from Singapore’s PAP (People’s Action Party). Despite the fact, the KPK won 90 of 123 seats in the last election, the party still feel vulnerable to the press and opposition, because their criticism centers on issues the KPK have not been effective in dealing with, such as corruption and land seizures. Over the last year, Cambodian PM Hun Sen, a former member of the Khmer Rouge, and his KPK have used their super-majority to orchestrate the passing and enforcement of a series of repressive censorship laws to insure their political hegemony. It is too early to tell if the KPK will be successful in silencing dissent, but their list of victims is mounting:
Hang Chakra
Hang Chakra, a newspaper editor, is serving one year for accusing various government officials of corruption.
Moeung Sonn
Moeung Sonn, an opposition activist, has fled the country following a two year sentence being issued over his questioning of a government program that he believed might damage the Angkor Wat temple complex.
Ho Vann
Ho Vann, a parliamentarian from the the opposition party, Sam
Rainsy Party (SRP), currently on trial for questioning the academic qualifications of several generals.
Mu Suh-Kwor
Mu Suh-Kwor (Mu Sochua), a parliamentarian, also a member of SRP. The Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, was recently convicted of defaming the prime minster. Being one of the first to challenge the PM openly, by filing a lawsuit against him for defamation, she was made an example of. Even her attorney stopped representing her for fear of government retribution. She was sentenced to pay US$ $4,100, in a nation where the yearly income per capita is US$723. Most importantly, she lost her seat in parliament.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia has condemned these legal actions, not that it matters to the government. Pluralism and a “loyal opposition” seem to be concepts that have not yet evolved, at least not in the ranks of the KPK.
