PM Sues over Ley Murder Claim

A lawyer representing the government said yesterday he will submit a lawsuit to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court today against opposition senator Thak Lany, who Prime Minister Hun Sen accused of defamation for claiming the government was complicit in the murder of prominent government critic Kem Ley. In an interview with Fresh News on Friday night, Mr. Hun Sen said he would start suing opposition senators for claiming the government was involved in Mr. Ley’s murder at a gas station café on July 10.
 

He said it would be very easy for the government to strip opposition members of their constitutionally-backed immunity because the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) could secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, seemingly confirming suspicions of the opposition and human rights observers that the government did not respect the immunity given to opposition members and was looking for ways to strip it from them. Many opposition members, including Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Sam Rainsy, have said the government was involved in the shooting death of Mr. Ley due to his outspoken nature and history of criticizing Mr. Hun Sen and the government.
 

Only days before his death, Mr. Ley participated in a public roundtable discussion where he spoke on a recent Global Witness report tying many of the country’s largest corporations to Mr. Hun Sen and his children. The decision to sue Ms. Lany came after a two-minute video of a public forum in Ratanakiri province was leaked. The video allegedly showed Ms. Lany standing in front of opposition supporters criticizing the ruling party and directly blaming Mr. Hun Sen for Mr. Ley’s murder and the sustained judicial problems of many opposition leaders and members.  

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