The Asian Human Rights Commission joins with others in condemning the seven-years’ imprisonment handed without fair and credible trial to Cambodian opposition member of parliament Cheam Channy on fictitious charges of forming an illegal armed group. Another member of parliament, Khom Piseth, was also sentenced to five years in absentia.
With this verdict, the level of political repression in Cambodia has reached new heights. It is also quite likely that further arrests and detention of political opponents to the government will follow. The widespread perception that courts in Cambodia are little more than the subjects of political control also is only likely to be reinforced by the decision.
The re-emergence of political parties in Cambodia was one achievement of the UN-sponsored intervention there during the early 1990s, which culminated in the election of May 1993. Since that time, Cambodia as slid steadily back towards a condition that can now be described as proximate to a dictatorship.
The purpose of the legal action against the two members of parliament, and their party leader, was for the governing party to quash all dissent by making it impossible for legitimate opposition parties to function in the country. It was preceded by attacks in recent times on trade unionists, prohibitions on demonstrations, and limits on expressions of dissent in every form. Some persons have been killed and others intimidated and cowed into silence. A deep sense of fear and frustration has enveloped the country.
The international community, which earlier went to great lengths to intervene in Cambodia and establish multiparty democracy there, must come forwarded to defend and protect those who took that endeavour seriously and are facing serious consequences now as a result. The United Nations and governments around the world must call for a review of this judgment and the immediate release from prison of the convicted. An unambiguous message must be sent to the government of Cambodia that such outright political repression will not be tolerated.
