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Arrests of opposition members continue on a variety of charges. Today's reports of arrests include the two below.
The ruling party denies any attempts to prevent CNRP candidates from contesting the upcoming elections.

Opposition official charged over 2015 protest
May Titthara 17 February 2017

An opposition deputy commune chief was detained and charged by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court yesterday for his involvement in a protest at the Poipet border crossing in 2015.

Ke Samphors, a provincial CNRP vice-president, said the court decided to detain Chao Veasna at 12:40pm after a summons was issued by investigating judge Ek Poliphil.
The court charged Mr. Veasna with incitement, conspiring for intentional damage with aggravating circumstances and destruction of public property.

It was the third time Mr. Veasna, a CNRP official from the Sam Rainsy Party and deputy chief of Poipet commune, had been summoned over the protest.
“Mr. Veasna was not involved in the protest with the handcart pullers. He just went to monitor the situation as a commune official only,” Mr. Samphors said.

He said the decision to detain him was politically motivated because Mr. Veasna was popular and standing as a candidate in upcoming commune elections, adding that there was no evidence to arrest him...
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35570/ ... 5-protest/

Deputy commune chief arrested
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 17 February 2017

A deputy commune chief from the Sam Rainsy Party was yesterday charged for forging the National Election Committee’s (NEC) election observer documents last year.
Phnom Penh municipal police officer Chan Tha said that the suspect, 64-year-old Ly Sokun, was arrested yesterday afternoon and sent to Prey Sar prison for further investigation.

He was questioned over purportedly issuing letters and voter registration cards to opposition CNRP election observers without being officially registered or recognized by the NEC.
“After the prosecutor officially charged him, he was later arrested by police and sent to the court’s investigative judge and then to prison for further investigation ahead of his upcoming trial,” Mr. Tha said.

Mr. Sokun was charged with “forgery of public documents” under articles 626 and 629 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty, he faces between five and 10 years in jail. Deputy prosecutor Sin Vireak and Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigative judge Y Thavireak, both of whom are handling the case, could not be reached for comment.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35569/ ... -arrested/

Fearing arrest, CNRP activist flees
Mon, 20 February 2017
Lay Samean and Cristina Maza

Oun Vansak, a 25-year-old Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) activist, has become the latest government critic to flee the country fearing arrest.

Late last month, Vansak, manager of the I Love Cambodia Hot News II Facebook page, a site that is frequently critical of government policy, received a summons to court for questioning over a charge of “incitement to discriminate”.

The summons singles out no individual post made by Vansak, pointing only to a 2013-16 timeframe during which numerous posts could theoretically qualify under the oft-nebulous charge of incitement.

The activist was meant to appear in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday, but left the country a day earlier, fearing he would be jailed for expressing his opinions, he told The Post via email yesterday.

“I posted a lot of criticisms of the government, for example their handling of border issues, illegal Vietnamese immigration, and the death of Kem Ley,” Vansak wrote. “If I go to court they will arrest me. I have no faith in the judicial system; the government is using the court to pressure me.” ...


http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/f ... vist-flees

Cambodia is preparing for the democratic election ......without opposition !

"Cambodia is preparing for the democratic election ......without opposition !"

Of course. The notion of democracy was foisted upon Cambodia by UNTAC. Exactly why they thought it would be suitable for a country that had never had one much less philosophical preparation for one is beyond me. The facade has always been maintained to attract foreign aid money. Now that China has become a powerful benefactor the facade is quickly being dropped. No surprises here. UN Human rights has been told to duck off and the US military has had manoeuvres (training) cancelled. Cambodia has a history of worshipping /fearing power. Sharing it is unthinkable in their cultural context. You ain't in Kansas no more Toto.