Key Factors
- Son Chhay’s Candlelight Occasion was the best-performing opposition get together at Cambodia’s commune elections in June.
- Mr Chhay was sued after saying election outcomes didn’t replicate the need of the individuals.
- Now, the nation’s supreme court docket has upheld an earlier defamation ruling.
Cambodia’s Supreme Court docket has upheld a legal defamation conviction towards a former Adelaide faculty trainer and ordered him to pay A$1.2 million in fines to the Cambodian Individuals’s Occasion (CPP) led by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The ruling exhausts authorized avenues for Son Chhay, vice-president of the opposition Candlelight Occasion and a twin Australian and Cambodian citizen, who was awarded an Order of Australia in 2010.
It additionally means he won’t be able to contest nationwide elections in July.
Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Sen. Supply: AP / Francois Mori
“Sure I used to be informed by my lawyer that the Supreme Court docket upheld the conviction late on Thursday, Son Chhay informed information company AAP.
“I used to be at a listening to every week earlier than however I used to be not there for verdict and I do not really feel any completely different than after they took me to court docket within the first place.
“When a case is prosecuted by the ruling get together we do not anticipate something however a conviction,” the 67-year-old politician stated.
“We’ll strategy the Australian embassy subsequent week. I would like additional recommendation about what to do subsequent.”
Crackdown on dissent
Son Chhay’s Candlelight Occasion was the best-performing opposition get together at native commune elections in June, successful greater than 22 per cent of the favored vote.
However he was sued after he stated publicly: “These election outcomes don’t replicate the need of the individuals who had been intimidated. Their votes had been purchased and stolen.”
The ruling was issued amid a long-running crackdown on dissent, the pressured closure of unbiased information outlet Voice of Democracy, and long-running court docket battles towards the Candlelight Occasion which was cast out of the remnants of the Cambodian Nationwide Rescue Occasion (CNRP).
The CNRP was dissolved by the courts in late 2017, enabling the CPP to win all 125 seats contested within the nationwide election a yr later. Greater than 100 CNRP supporters have since been convicted and jailed in 4 mass trials, many in absentia, for incitement and plotting to overthrow Hun Sen.
Amongst them was Hong Lim, a retired member of the Victorian parliament who was acquitted in October 2021. Late final yr one other court docket ordered Son Chhay’s two properties to be seized and used as safety to make sure damages are paid to the CPP and NEC.
“The Australian embassy has been attending the listening to they usually have accomplished job and been fairly supportive,” Son Chhay stated.
“Solely a liberal democracy can promote peace and stability.”
Cambodia is ranked in second final place on the World Justice Undertaking (WJP) 2022 Rule of Regulation Index at 139 out of 140 international locations, one place behind Afghanistan and one place above Venezuela.
