Politics

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday that opposition leader Kem Sokha will not be released from detention despite hitting the 18-month maximum allowed by law in pre-trial detention, a move denounced by the opposition as a violation of the constitution.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned opposition politicians Monday that they should act quickly if they want bans on their political activity lifted because he will soon rescind the opportunity.

Cambodia should be more wary of Western sanctions.

Cambodia exported $400 million in garments and textile products to the United States duty-free last year, according to GMAC.

Cambodia on Thursday called on Pakistan and India to exercise utmost restraint to avoid further clashes, according to a foreign ministry's statement.

Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn will receive the Steven Krulis Champion of Humanity Distinguished Service Award from Aegis Trust, an organisation dedicated to preventing future genocides and promoting humanity globally.

Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong is in Cambodia for a two-day state visit to strengthen already close bilateral ties.

The legal team of Kem Sokha, the president of the former opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), on Wednesday complained of being attacked by supporters of Sam Rainsy, his fellow party co-founder.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior on Thursday issued detailed instructions for the political rehabilitation of lawmakers from the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), but a party official said it had no interest in returning while leader Kem Sokha remained in jail.

Political veteran Kong Korm, who is currently the honorary president of the Khmer Will Party, weighed into the EBA debate on Monday, saying that withdrawing Cambodia’s trade preferences was tantamount to a Khmer saying, “getting angry with the oxen, but beating the oxen-driven cart”.

Former diplomats, researchers, and human rights activists gathered recently at the University of Melbourne, Australia, for the book launch of “Seeking Justice in Cambodia: Human Rights Defenders Speak Out.”

The EU has given Cambodia 12 months to implement reforms or face losing its access to a preferential trade scheme thought to be vital to the economy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation called on the US Embassy in Phnom Penh on Saturday to respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations after it called former opposition leader Kem Sokha “an innocent man” – a move deemed to be “disrespecting Cambodia’s sovereignty”.

Cambodia on Saturday slammed the Embassy of the United States to Cambodia for a misleading comment concerning the legal case of former Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha.

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy vowed again on Friday to go back to Cambodia after more than three years abroad, defying threats by ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen to arrest him but declining to set a clear date for his return.

A senior former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) official has said he believed Prime Minister Hun Sen would win the wager on the legal status of party co-founder Kem Sokha that Sam Rainsy made with him.

Sam Rainsy’s promise return to Cambodia is a gamble with Hun Sen and foreign governments.

Mayor Robert Garcia made history when he became the city’s first sitting mayor to visit Cambodia last month.

Cambodia must work during the next 18 months to destroy the opposition party at the local level before European Union trade sanctions come into effect, Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a phone call to government officers leaked to social media on Thursday.

Senior government officials and analysts have slammed Sam Rainsy for not allowing uncomfortable questions at a recent public forum in the US, considering it a gross violation of democratic policy and freedom of expression, and labelling Rainsy a dictator.