April 28th 2023.
On Friday, despite facing a more serious charge of “incitement to provoke social chaos”, Thach Setha, vice president of Cambodia’s main opposition party, Candlelight Party, still managed to smile and wave to reporters and supporters as he entered the Phnom Penh Municipal court for his bail hearing. The 69-year-old had grown a shaggy white goatee while in detention.
The new charge carries a potential jail sentence of between six months to two years and is likely to prevent Thach Setha from campaigning for the upcoming July 23 general elections. NGOs have pointed out that this is the latest example of the Cambodian government targeting political opposition to the country’s strongman leader Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
Ros Sotha, executive director of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition, urged the ruling party to allow free and fair elections, saying, “I would like the politicians to consider their people. they have been suffering for many months already.
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Y Soksan, a senior officer in the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, pointed out that Thach Setha has attempted to repay the checks that bounced, but that the recipients are refusing in order to prolong his detention.
Thach Setha's wife, Thach Sokborany, has asked the court to show clemency and release her husband on bail so that he can receive proper treatment for his diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. She hopes he will be reunited with his family soon.
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