A civil society organization stated that Cambodia’s freedom of expression, assembly, including political rights remains restricted in a report, which comes amid continual arrests of opposition Nation Power Party (NPP) officials recently.
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) published a report which analyzed incidents in 2024, noting that more than 90 percent of outreach activities of “democracy, civil and political rights” were restricted by local authorities, which are in violation of national and international laws.
The restrictions were characterized by way of regular surveillance, setting up of barricades on the streets to prohibit citizens from joining forums, as well as recording names after they return from those events.
“The state authority should consider what we have found [in the report] in which the incidents happened when there was an assembly, and authorities prohibited, and sometimes [imposed the need for prior] permission,” said ADHOC president Ny Sokha.
When the government continued to deny, Sokha felt that it “cannot reform anything because we are not recognizing the truth”.
The report recommended that the Interior Ministry introduce a directive indicating that “legal registered associations and NGOs” have the full right to carry out their activities in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, on February 5 this year, NPP steering committee member and deputy Prey Veng provincial working group Sam Vibol was arrested and charged with incitement to disturb social security.
In January, NPP official district level Phan Sarath was accused of the same charge in Takeo province.
Echoing the NPP’s view, advisor Rong Chhun expressed regret over the arrest of its officials. He considered the cases an intimidation and persecution of the opposition party, when they were only exercising their right to freedom of expression in the country that upholds democracy.
“We have seen that [the arrest] isn’t related to law enforcement but is politically motivated,” he said, adding that people who are pro-ruling party have expressed similar views but legal action was never imposed compared to the action taken on the opposition parties.
“We can see there are two-standards,” Chhun said regarding the enforcement of the law.
According to him, Vibol was a former provincial councilor for the now-defunct CNRP. He restarted his political affiliation after joining Candlelight Party as a provincial deputy party chief.
Last December, NPP party president Sun Chanthy was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for incitement to disturb social security following his criticism of the country’s development.
However, Phnom Penh Municipal Police rejected the party’s claims (that the arrest was unreasonable), stating the arrest was actually related to crimes and insulting public officials.
Candlelight Party secretary general Ly Sothearayuth said opposition activists are targeted because they are “popular” and actively help and serve the people.
“We are really concerned about the shrinking of democracy,” he said. “We suggest that the culture of dialogue be restored among Cambodian politicians for the purpose of national unity, reconciliation and resilience to solve the social and national issues together.”
Ruling CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan said Cambodians can freely exercise their rights and political affiliation as stipulated under the constitution.
According to the police, the recent arrests are related to alleged “red-hand crimes” and are not politically motivated.
“It [freedom] is not restricted as they asserted. If it was, all [members] of the Nation Power Party cannot conduct their activity,” Eysan said.
He downplayed civil society groups and political parties’ demands to restore human rights and democracy, noting that Cambodia is “carrying on smoothly”, including economic growth.
Political analyst Em Sovannara viewed that Cambodia political space is starting to experience a “very shrinking space” and there is inadequate effort to meet demands to restore situations by international communities—as well as maintain the General Scheme of Preference (GSP) and Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential treatment.
“In my opinion, I have seen that the ruling party isn’t worried about losing the EBA,” he said.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona echoed CPP’s Sok Eysan in saying that Cambodia has ”implemented full freedom of expression”.
“I think there might be a misunderstanding between ADHOC and local authorities. There isn’t any restriction,” he said, adding that NGOs should inform authorities and provide good cooperation when holding public forums.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak could not be reached for comment.
