N U MB E R 2805 ssue I friday, november 17, 2017 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent 4000 RIEL CNRP DISSOLVED

Security officials stand guard at the Supreme Court yes- terday ahead of a ruling that dissolved the country’s main opposition party, a move rights groups warn strips the 2018 national elections of any credibility. PHA LINA Supreme Court ruling ‘death of democracy’

Ben Sokhean, Mech Dara 118 of its senior officials from any of from his residence in tributed to other political entities, a “Today the Supreme Court gave a and Ananth Baliga political activity in the Kingdom for on September 3, after move the party equated to theft. blow to democracy but not a fatal five years, effective immediately. which he was taken to a prison along “It is a robbing of the people’s will, one, as the democratic movement he Supreme Court yester- Munty made sure to announce the Vietnamese border in Tbong and the parties who take these seats for change inside and outside Cam- day ruled to dissolve the that the court’s decision was final Khmum province and charged with – they are a part of the conspiracy to bodia will be glued together stronger National Rescue and that there could be no appeal. “treason”. Controversial amend- rob,” a CNRP statement reads. than ever,” she said. “We will remain Party, removing the only ex- The hearing was a one-sided ments to the Law on Political Parties “The CNRP absolutely does not the proud elected representatives Tisting electoral threat to Prime Min- event, with the CNRP declining to rammed through by the CPP in July acknowledge the Supreme Court of our people at local and national ister ’s grip on power in the send legal representation – a move paved the way for the ruling, making decision and still considers itself a levels.” Kingdom and undoing in one stroke Munty cited as a confession of guilt. it illegal for a party to associate with legitimate party.” Sochua also called on internation- the opposition’s gains over the past Based on a complaint filed by the a convicted criminal or to conspire CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann al donors to “take the most needed five years. Ministry of Interior last month, the with individuals “against the inter- said the decision was the “end of de- step” of targeted sanctions against After a five-hour trial and two case relied on a single narrative – est of the Kingdom of Cambodia”. mocracy” in Cambodia, while party ruling party figures. hours of deliberation, presiding that the CNRP was attempting to A slew of changes hastily made to lawmaker Mao Monyvann called it a “Change will only come through Judge and senior Cambodian Peo- overthrow the government through electoral laws last month now mean “political crisis”. free, fair and inclusive elections.” ple’s Party official Dith Munty an- a so-called “colour revolution” aided that the CNRP’s existing elected po- CNRP Deputy Vice President Mu International and regional organi- nounced the verdict just after 5pm by the United States. sitions at all levels – 55 seats in the Sochua criticised the decision but sations were also quick to decry the yesterday evening, ordering the dis- The alleged conspiracy came to National Assembly and 489 com- predicted a democratic change banding of the CNRP and banning the fore after the midnight arrest mune chief positions – will be dis- would still come about. Continued – page 2 emerging cambodia’s Inside 12 destinations Pages 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST november 17, 2017 www.phnompenhpost.com National Opposition CNRP dissolved

Continued from page 1 arranged by the [National Elec- press pass as she observed the tion Committee], which is an proceedings outside the court. Supreme Court’s decision. independent unit,” he said. This was despite a statement Human Rights Watch’s Phil The premier spent the major- made by Phnom Penh Munici- Robertson called it the “death ity of the address once again pal Police Chief Chhoun of democracy” and “a political asking CNRP elected officials Sovann earlier in the day that killing of the Paris Peace to defect to his Cambodian the trial was open to the public Accords”, while the Interna- People’s Party, repeating an and security arrangements tional Commission of Jurists offer that they could retain were only to protect from “ter- labelled the ruling a “human their seats under the ruling rorism issues”. rights and rule of law crisis”. party and extending the dead- “People can go to the court The Asean Parliamentarians line for jumping ship by two and listen to a public trial and for Human Rights, meanwhile, more weeks. As of today, fewer hearing. It was harassment and said Cambodia was now usher- than 200 of some 6,000 opposi- a threat to citizens,” Leng said ing in a “new era of de facto tion officials have joined the after her release. one-party rule”. ruling party. Among the evidence pre- Prime Minister Hun Sen took “All the members and activ- sented in court were two vid- to television yesterday evening ists of the CNRP, except a few eos that have been pointed to to deliver a statement in sup- whose rights were suspended repeatedly as purported proof port of the high court’s deci- by the Supreme Court, still of the CNRP plot – one of party sion, insisting it was based have their freedoms,” Hun Sen leader Kem Sokha saying he soundly on the principle of said. received US training and Police officials block off Wat Botum Park ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the dissolution of the CNRP “rule of law”, and asking citi- Yesterday’s proceedings were another of former party head in Phnom Penh yesterday. SAHIBA CHAWDHARY zens to remain calm and go held inside of a heavy security calling on the about their business as usual. cordon around the Supreme armed forces to turn their guns the Cambodian Center for judge panel. justice to have someone in a “I would like to tell interna- Court, and movement from the on the government. Human Rights and Australian The government has but- leadership position within tional friends that we are provinces to the capital was A number of the civil society filmmaker James Ricketson, tressed its accusations against one political party sit in judg- enforcing our own law,” he restricted, with authorities groups were also named by the who is also currently jailed over the CNRP with assertions the ment on the conduct of that said, while warning the inter- around the country monitoring lawyers as facilitators of the espionage accusations. party was aided by the US in party’s main opposition. There national community not to local CNRP elected officials. alleged revolution. Lawyer Ly Lawyer Ky Tech informed the trying to overthrow the govern- can be no starker example of commit the same errors it had Before the hearing, journalists Chanthola called US-funded court that the CNRP had ment – an allegation denied by an inherent conflict of inter- in the past, like supporting the and observers were stymied by broadcaster Radio Free Asia an mounted a “lotus revolution” the embassy in Phnom Penh. est,” Abbott said. Lon Nol regime and, later, rec- police barricades around the “assistant” and election moni- when they protested the 2013 As evidence, Tech referred to Late yesterday evening, the ognising the Khmer Rouge. Supreme Court before eventu- tor Comfrel a “fellow colluder”. elections results – a reference a speech made by US President enormity of the Supreme He maintained that the end ally being allowed to enter the Two RFA reporters were arrest- to similarly named non-violent Donald Trump last year calling Court’s decision was not lost on of the CNRP did not undo court around half an hour ed on Tuesday night and are mass demonstrations in East- for an end to American attempts the capital’s residents. Cambodia’s constitutionally before the start of the hearing. expected to be charged with ern Europe. to topple foreign governments. “For the upcoming election, mandated multiparty political Former Cambodia Daily “espionage” today. “Cambodia is under many “It shows that the US is I think it is meaningless because system. journalist Len Leng was Chanthola then took aim at Pa attempts to do ‘colour revolu- behind the toppling of many there is only one side, therefore “The government will commit detained and questioned for Nguon Teang, executive director tion’ by the CNRP, by colluding governments,” he said. who can [people] vote for?” to protecting the multi-party nearly three hours at the Chak- at the Cambodian Center for with foreigners and cooperat- Lawyer Sonn Chuoy, mean- said 21-year-old Sok Sophorn. democracy process, and the tomuk Commune Police Sta- Independent Media; Vorn Pao, ing with local and internation- while, pointed out numerous “Our country, law and power approaching election will be tion for allegedly not having a president of local union IDEA; al NGOs,” he told the nine- meetings held by senior CNRP is in his [Hun Sen’s] hands. Eve- officials with the US State rything belongs to him and if Department and congressmen, he orders them to go left, they like senators Ted Cruz and John go left, and when he orders McCain, and Representative them right, they go right.” Alan Lowenthal. The embassy Lim San, 55, from Kandal had not released a statement as province’s Kien Svay district, of press time. was unable to hold back her Kingsley Abbott, the ICJ’s sen- tears, vowing to continue her ior international legal adviser support of the now-dissolved for Southeast Asia, said Munty’s party. presence on the bench, given “The one who dissolved [the his lofty place within the CPP’s CNRP] is not good,” she said, internal workings, raised seri- standing at a barricade on Sih- ous doubts about the independ- anouk Boulevard as the sun set ence of the court. Munty is a on the capital. “Next year, I member of the ruling party’s won’t go to vote because I don’t permanent committee and has know who I should vote for.” Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy (centre-right) raises his arm with op- Opposition leader Kem Sokha is escorted by police officials following been an adviser to the premier Additional reporting by Chhay Chan- position leader Kem Sokha (centre-left) as they greet supporters along his midnight arrest in Phnom Penh in September. He stands accused of since before he took office. nyda, Phak Seangly, Kong Meta And a street in Phnom Penh in 2013. AFP ‘treason’. AFP “It makes a mockery of fair Leonie Kijewski