On September 20, Rong Chhun, a senior advisor to the opposition National Power Party, appeared in Phnom Penh Municipal Court after being summoned by an investigating judge.
The summons stems from charges of a “non-recidivism misdemeanor” and “incitement causing serious disruption to social security” brought against Chhun on September 4.
Chhun, who used to be the president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, was also charged with incitement for comments he made in 2020 regarding the demarcation of border posts between Cambodia and Vietnam.
He was subsequently convicted in 2021 and sentenced to two years in prison for additional incitement charges related to his suggestion that a community along the Vietnam border had lost land during the demarcation process.
The court released Chhun from jail on November 12, 2021 after he had served more than 15 months. Since then, he has been on a three-year probationary period, which expires on November 12, 2024.
Chhun told reporters and supporters after Friday’s proceedings that the court had decided not to detain him, but imposed travel restrictions and judicial supervision measures such as barring him from attending political meetings and forcing him to regularly notify authorities about his whereabouts.
“[…] Despite losing some freedom, I can still meet all of you. From now on, my freedom is narrow and if I do not follow the [court’s] requirements, they will detain me,” Chhun said to his supporters outside the courthouse.
As for his next hearing, Chhun has yet to receive notice. He plans to maintain his innocence during the rest of the proceedings but will continue to cooperate with the court, the political advisor told CamboJA News.
Chhun believes the recent charges were brought against him after a series of political trips and an interview with a foreign and banned news service critical of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
In a speech in front of the court, Chhun stated that he felt compelled during the hearing to question the state’s definition of “incitement”, expressing disagreement with the excessive use of the charge against political rivals.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesperson Y Rin stated that the current court proceedings are solely an “investigation,” during which the investigating judge can examine and collect evidence before deciding whether to take the case to trial.
Outside the courthouse on the morning of Chhun’s hearing, authorities barricaded the road to the court, where two National Power Party supporters, 83-year-old Nget Khun and her daughter Eng Sokha, were arrested following a verbal clash with officials, according to a report from Radio Free Asia Khmer.
CamboJA News did not immediately receive confirmation from Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesperson Sam Vichhika regarding whether the mother and daughter were taken to jail.
Phon Sophea, a member of the National Power Party’s board of directors, declared that the latest charges against Chhun are politically motivated.
“He [Chhun] met at the request of the people, and all his speeches and actions have nothing to do with the accusation of incitement,” Sophea said.
Senior investigator Yi Soksan at the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) told CamboJA News that Chhun’s activities—giving interviews to the media and visiting people affected by land disputes—were not illegal.
Soksan explained that Chhun’s actions, including his media appearances, were in line with his role as a political party adviser.
In a democratic country like Cambodia, freedom of expression should allow for critical reflection on the government’s progress, Soksan said.
Soksan urged the government to welcome constructive criticism instead of labeling such actions as incitement.
“Although he [Chhun] is not imprisoned, he is free in a limited circle,” Soksan added. “He has no right to do anything, this is a restriction on the freedom of politicians.”
