Cambodia opposition leader is sentenced

January 27 2010
By Tim Johnston
Financial Times (UK)

Sam Rainsy, the leader of Cambodia’s largest opposition party, has been sentenced to two years in jail after a closed court found him guilty of pulling up posts used to demarcate the border between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Mr Rainsy, currently in Paris, said the conviction was politically motivated. He had led a protest last October to highlight what he said was land encroachment by Vietnam.

“I don’t care about this sentence,” Mr Rainsy said. “I will continue to fight for justice for Cambodians who are victimised by land grabbing, including border encroachment.”

Parliament, which is dominated by the Cambodian People’s party of Hun Sen, prime minister, lifted Mr Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity so he could be tried on charges of destruction of public property and inciting a criminal act.

Two villagers who accompanied Mr Rainsy on the protest were sentenced to a year in prison each.

Human rights groups say the CPP uses its control over parliament and politicised courts to intimidate the opposition. “Hun Sen was looking for an excuse to have Sam Rainsy removed from parliament and marginalised,” said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

The government said the courts made decisions independent of any outside influence.