Cambodia’s Hun Sen uses the courts and violence against dissent
Elections are scheduled for July, but the prime minister recently explained how he handles dissent, proving once more that the country is not on the path towards democracy. In the past year, Cambodia held ASEAN’s rotating presidency, raising concern in the international community, but little will change with Indonesia now taking over.
Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) – Prime Minister Hun Sen and his party, the Cambodian People’s Party, have ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for decades. Now that elections are set to take place in July, Hun Sen is warning that criticising his party has consequences.
Opposition parties noted that Cambodia’s strongman has two ways to crush dissent, the law and violence. In his response, Hun Sen agreed: “What do you think? I want to ask you. There are two choices, one is using the law, the other is using a stick [violence]. Which one do you take?”
The use of violence against critics of his regime has been a constant since Hun Sen came to power. In 2017 he had the only party able to challenge his power, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), dissolved.
When pressure, threats, jail and exile do not stop opponents, Cambodia’s leader uses the courts to impose his will.
CNRP’s former president, Sam Rainsy, and his deputy, Mu Sochua have been forced into exile, while Kem Sokha, who remained in the country, was imprisoned in 2017. He was released two years later with the obligation of not leaving the country and not participating in political activities. And he still faces treason charges.
"As the general election in Cambodia approaches, ASEAN and the global community at large should not be fooled into believing that it can be a democratic process in the conditions prevailing now in the country,” said Mercy Barends, a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives and a member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).
"They should put real pressure on the Cambodian government to unconditionally release all political prisoners, stop its campaign of harassment against the opposition, and comply with the terms of the Paris Peace Accord, signed in 1991 and designed to put the country on a democratic path.”
Last year, Cambodia held ASEAN’s rotating presidency; its slogan: "ASEAN ACT: Addressing Challenges Together".
Hun Sen's relations with Myanmar’s military rulers (starting with the visit to Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw at the start of his term), the organisation's lukewarm position on the conflict in Ukraine, the difficulties in defining a clear position towards China while maintaining a strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan, have increased international pressures and suspicions.
With the summit on 13 November 2022, Indonesia took over ASEAN’S leadership. This could lead to greater clarity regarding the organisation’s democratic credentials and greater commitment to counter authoritarian impulses within it.
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