THE Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) is nothing if not hardy. The main opposition to the government of Hun Sen, Cambodia’s strongman of 32 years, it and its precursors have long been subject to official harassment. Its first leader, Sam Rainsy, has fled the country several times to escape defamation charges brought by Mr Hun Sen, most recently in 2015. His successor, Kem Sokha, was arrested last month on trumped-up treason charges. The courts, the army and other arms of the state openly favour the governing Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
Before local elections in June the defence minister declared that the army would “smash the teeth” of anyone who protested against the outcome, as CNRP supporters did in 2013, a few months after a narrow election loss. Yet the CNRP still managed to win 46% of the popular vote, not far behind the CPP’s 51%. That doubtless made the government nervous about parliamentary elections...Continue reading
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