Protest leader assistant to PM

The head of the youth group seen leading a protest outside the National Assembly in October – attendees of which brutally assaulted two opposition lawmakers – is an assistant to Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to a decree released online.

Pankhem Bunthan, executive director of the Youth Federation of Senaneak, whose members in June swore an oath of fealty to the premier, was appointed to the role in May, according to a directive signed by the premier and obtained yesterday.

Bunthan is shown in pictures, circulated on social media, holding a megaphone in front of a crowd of protesters, who gathered outside parliament on October 26 demanding that Cambodia National Rescue Party vice president Kem Sokha be removed as the parliament’s first vice president, an ousting that occurred soon after.

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