Like many opposition officials who were banned from politics in 2017, Chea Poch, a former Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker from Kampot province, kept quiet for five years for his safety.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued a warrant to temporarily seize two properties of Candlelight Party vice president Son Chhay, to ensure payment to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party after the party was awarded damages last month.
Agronomist and former opposition politician Yang Saing Koma will be promoted to a secretary of state position in the Agriculture Ministry — an appointment political analysts say reflects the government’s desire to address low rice prices.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday turned over the Asean chairmanship to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who said the bloc must “not be a proxy to any powers” or allow geopolitics to birth a “new cold war” in the region.
In contrast to the proposals of at least one Asean leader, Asean may continue to allow Myanmar’s military junta to be represented at some bloc meetings, and Asean will continue to follow the existing Five-Point Consensus plan, according to a Friday Asean leaders’ statement.
Cambodia launched the start of the 40th Asean summit and related regional meetings on Wednesday as world leaders from 29 countries converged in Phnom Penh to join four days of discussions on topics ranging from how to deal with Myanmar’s junta, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and contested claims to the South China Sea.
Ahead of the Asean summit in Phnom Penh this week, observers say leaders of the bloc’s member states will mostly debate regional security issues, especially the conflict in Myanmar. The country’s military leader was not invited.
Approximately 200 of Candlelight Party’s 2,000 commune councilors signed a petition condemning opposition leader Sam Rainsy, but only under coercion from local authorities, said Candlelight vice president Thach Setha.