Cambodian opposition leader Sun Chanthy has been sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly inciting social unrest, marking the latest development in a growing crackdown on government critics. The ruling, handed down on December 26, also includes a ban on Sun from participating in future elections.
Sun Chanthy, the president of the Nation Power Party, was arrested in May following a meeting with supporters in Japan. Authorities accused him of spreading false information on Facebook, which they claim misled the public. However, local police denied that his arrest was politically motivated.
Sun was tried in absentia after he was unable to attend the court hearing in Phnom Penh, reportedly due to travel-related health issues. His lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, confirmed the details of the sentence to the media.
This case is part of a broader pattern of legal actions against politicians, journalists, and activists critical of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which has held power for over four decades. Rights groups argue that these prosecutions are part of a deliberate effort to stifle dissent and silence opposition.
In a statement to reporters, Cambodia’s Ministry of Justice had not responded to inquiries regarding the verdict.
Since the CPP’s election victory in 2023, which followed the disqualification of the Candlelight Party, Sun Chanthy’s Nation Power Party had emerged as one of the few remaining opposition forces. Human rights organization Licadho reports that, in 2024 alone, 102 individuals have been jailed for expressing opposition to the government, with 76 still in custody as of December 10.
The CPP has consistently denied accusations of restricting free speech, asserting that those arrested have merely violated the law. The party’s ongoing crackdown has led to the imprisonment or exile of many political opponents, further consolidating the government’s control over the country.
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