Sun Chanthy faces jail time after being convicted of inciting disorder in Cambodia, raising concerns over political repression in the country
Phnom Penh: So, here’s the scoop. Sun Chanthy, the head of the Nation Power party in Cambodia, just got hit with a two-year prison sentence. He was found guilty of stirring up social disorder, which is a big deal in the current political climate.
This whole thing went down in court, and it’s not just about jail time. He’s also facing a hefty fine and can’t vote or run for office anymore. His lawyer, Choung Choungy, is calling it an “injustice” and is thinking about appealing the decision.
What really got him in trouble were some social media posts, including a video from a meeting in Japan where he criticized the government. He pointed out how government policies have left people in debt and slammed their social welfare system.
Choung Choungy argues that Sun Chanthy’s comments were meant to help, not harm. But the Cambodian government has a history of using the courts to silence critics and keep a tight grip on power.
Sun Chanthy used to be a big player in the Cambodia National Rescue party, which got dissolved before the 2018 elections. He later joined the Candlelight party, but that was banned from last year’s election, which was pretty much a one-sided affair won by Hun Sen, who’s been in charge for nearly 40 years.
Now, Hun Sen has passed the baton to his son, Hun Manet, but the authorities insist that Sun Chanthy’s case isn’t politically motivated. Still, it raises eyebrows, especially since others, like union leaders and journalists, are facing similar charges.