Cambodia crackdown

Posted on by planethour

The last independent newspaper in Cambodia will be downing its shutters after the Cambodian government slapped it with a huge tax bill. The newspaper which had been often critical of the government in Phnom Penh said it was destroyed by the tax bill of $6.3 million. On Sunday Cambodia’s opposition leader, Kern Sokha, was arrested on treason charges, BBC reports. The opposition leader had been charged with collaborating with unnamed foreigners to harm the country. 

The crackdown could be in response to the forthcoming general elections in Cambodia. Hun Sen is a former Khmer Rouge cadre and is the Prime Minister of the country since 1985. The opposition poses a challenge for the PM in the upcoming election. The opposition leader’s daughter, Monovithya Kem, who is also an official in the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said on Twitter that Kem Sokha and his body guards had been taken away, his house was ransacked. About 100 to 200 policemen cam to his home withut a warrant. 

BBC | FRANCE24 

Author:

Have had an interest in international and national issues arising out of governance or lack of it. I have lived through a time when Pol Pot ruled Cambodia, Idi Amin ruled Uganda. Shah of Iran was toppled in Iran, Afghanistan was ruled by Soviet puppet, Yogoslavia was split up in a bloody war. I also lived through the era when Lebanon became a byword for armed conflict, a civil war. India split up Pakistan. I have lived through all the wars with our neighbors. I expected the new milleniun to usher in Peace, but it is not to be.

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