Cambodian union leader stands trial for ‘incitement’
PHNOM PENH: An outspoken union leader went on trial in Cambodia yesterday for alleged incitement, the latest in a series of court cases activists say are aimed at cracking down on opposition voices.
Rong Chhun, the leader of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, was arrested in July after accusing the government of ‘irregularities’ over the demarcation of the eastern border with Vietnam. He said the newly agreed borderline encroaches on some locals’ farmland.
Opposition politicians have long accused strongman premier Hun Sen of ceding territory to Vietnam, harnessing the long-running unresolved border issues between the two countries to whip up nationalist sentiment against his administration.
Rong Chhun, who has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest, faces up to two years in prison if found guilty of incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest.
He appeared at the Phnom Penh municipal court alongside two other people, who were arrested during protests demanding his release and face the same charges, defence lawyer Sam Sokong told AFP.
Rong Chhun was questioned about his border comments and shown a video clip of him meeting with Cambodian people at the border, he said.
“Rong Chhun told the court that it is his right to express opinions about social issues,” Sam Sokong said, adding that the court then adjourned the hearing to Feb 3.
“Rong Chhun denied the charges. He told the court that it is not a crime, it is just an expression of his opinion.”
Since the election in July 2018, when Hun Sen’s party won every parliamentary seat in a vote without a credible opposition, the Cambodian authorities have stepped up arrests of former opposition party members, human rights defenders and dissenting voices. — AFP