A Cambodian court on Monday sentenced an opposition senator to seven years in prison for material he posted to Facebook. Critics say the case is an example of the Cambodian government's efforts to suppress opposition.

Hong Sok Hour, a member of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was arrested in 2015 after he posted a purported copy of the 1979 border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the document was forged and accused Sok Hour of treason.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Sok Hour guilty of falsifying public documents, using fake documents and inciting chaos.

 

"This verdict once again shows the weakness of this court system in Cambodia. The court, which represent the justice for all Cambodians, does not give justice to Mr Hong Sok Hour, not only him but in many other politically-motivated cases," said Son Chhay, a member of parliament who also belongs to the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Last month another opposition lawmaker, Um Sam Ann, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his online postings about the border with Vietnam.

 

source http://www.voanews.com/a/cambodian-senators-gets-7-year-sentence-for-facebook-post/3584325.html

 

 

-- © Copyright VOA 07/11

Cambodian Opposition Senator Sentenced to 7 Years in Jail

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A Cambodian court on Monday sentenced an opposition senator to seven years in prison over comments he posted on Facebook criticizing a 36-year-old border agreement with neighboring Vietnam.

Judge Ros Piseth of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found senator Hong Sok Hour, a member of country's main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, guilty of falsifying public documents, using fake documents and inciting chaos.

 

Hong Sok Hour and his defense lawyer did not appear before the court, but Son Chhay, an opposition lawmaker who attended the hearing, told reporters that the conviction reflected the court's lack of independence. "For me, I am already aware that this case is political motivated," Son Chhay said.

 

Hong Sok Hour was arrested in August 2015 after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused him of treason for the online posting, which included the purported text of a 1979 treaty with Vietnam that declared that their mutual border would be dissolved. Hun Sen — who was foreign minister at the time in a government installed by a Vietnamese occupation force that invaded Cambodia to oust the murderous Khmer Rouge regime — insisted the treaty was forged.

 

Hong Sok Hour is the latest opposition figure to run afoul of the law in what activists say is the willful use of the courts to suppress government critics.

The case is one of several hanging over opposition leaders in what is generally seen as an attempt to disrupt their organizing efforts ahead of local elections next June. The next general election is not until the middle of 2018, but holding power at the local level is an advantage when national polls are held.

 

On Friday, an appeals court upheld a five-month prison term for opposition leader Kem Sokha's refusal to twice answer a court summons, in a case involving his alleged mistress, but which his supporters say is politically motivated.

 

A month ago, another opposition lawmaker, Um Sam Ann, who has been a strong critic of the government's handling of demarcating the border with Vietnam, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for his online postings.

 

source AP

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/11/07/world/asia/ap-as-cambodia-politics.html?_r=0

 

-- © Associated Press 07/11

Seems like Facebook in Asia is a dangerous pursuit.

" The case is one of several hanging over opposition leaders in what is generally seen as an attempt to disrupt their organizing efforts ahead of local elections"

 

  It does sound kinda familiar, except that the article does not say that in Cambodia the sentence was suspended for 5 years pending appeal.

Another Pol Pot on the rise eh?

Oh no, the thai regime bashers that couldn't handle suppression of free speech and already left to Cambo? OMG What a nightmare!!!!

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