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full screen Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, son of former Prime Minister Hun Sen who was in power for almost 40 years. Archive image. Photo: Heng Sinith/AP/TT
The leader of a newly formed opposition party in Cambodia has been arrested on charges of “inciting social disorder”, according to his lawyer.
It is the third court case against critics of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s rule this month.
Sun Chanthy formed the party whose name in Swedish roughly translates to National Strength last year. He was arrested on Thursday when he returned home from a trip to Japan, where he met Cambodian exile workers. In his address to them, he is said to have criticized the current government. The statement was then posted on social media. Cambodia’s Ministry of Justice states that Sun Chanthy was arrested for “distorting information”.
Just a few days ago, a union leader was sentenced to 18 months in prison for statements he made on social media. Earlier in May, a two-year prison sentence was handed down against another prominent union leader, accused of crimes committed during a strike.
Cambodia’s government has long been accused of using the legal system to crack down on critics and political opponents. Several political parties that have challenged the rule have been dissolved by courts or had their leaders imprisoned and harassed.