Sam Rainsy s Facebook page
A court in Cambodia sentenced the acting chief of the country’s opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy to a 25-year jail term in absentia on Monday for plotting a “coup” as part of his attempt to return home from self-imposed exile in late 2019, according to officials.
Sam Rainsy, who has lived in Paris since 2015 to avoid a string of charges and convictions he says are politically motivated, was convicted “for an [attempted] attack in Cambodia in 2019,” a Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesperson said.
Eight other CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy s wife Tioulong Saumura, Eng Chhai Eang, Mu Sochua, Ou Chanrith, Long Ry, Nuth Romdoul, Ho Vann, and Men Sothavarin were also sentenced in absentia to between 20 and 22 years in jail. All nine were also banned from voting or running as candidates in future elections, according to pro-government media outlet Fresh News.
Cambodia’s exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy has been sentenced in absentia to 25 years in jail for an alleged plot to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, a court official said, drawing swift condemnation from the opposition and rights groups.
Rainsy was convicted “for an (attempted) attack in Cambodia in 2019”, Y Rin, a spokesman for Phnom Penh Municipal Court, told the AFP news agency on Monday, refusing to give further details.
The court also stripped Rainsy of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in an election, the official said.
“Once again, Cambodia’s politically controlled judiciary make a mockery of justice rather than defending it,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sam Rainsy sentenced to 25 years by Cambodian court
Others jailed for 20 years as opposition parties struggle to regroup ahead of elections
Cambodia s opposition leader-in-exile Sam Rainsy speaks to the media as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Nov. 9, 2019. Cambodia s opposition figurehead was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in jail on March 1. (Photo: AFP)
Phnom Penh Municipal Court has sentenced former opposition leader Sam Rainsy to 25 years in prison and deprived him of the right to vote or stand as a candidate in upcoming elections for plotting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The court also sentenced two senior figures from the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Mu Sochua and Eng Chhay Eang, in absentia to 22 years behind bars.
Delegates attend the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – An informal meeting via videoconference of foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN member
states took place on March 2 and ended with the release of a Chair s Statement. The following is the full text of the document:
Chair’s Statement on the Informal ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting (IAMM)
1. The
IAMM) was convened on 2 March 2021 via
videoconference, with the view to progress the implementation of the ASEAN Community
Vision 2025, work on an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision, advance ASEAN’s
initiatives to respond to and recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic, discuss ASEAN’s external relations, as well as exchange
Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy slapped with 25-year jail sentence as Australians face incitement trial abc.net.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abc.net.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.