Phnom Penh Municipal Court questioned Candlelight Party president Teav Vannol for his comment made in a foreign media alleging that Cambodia’s democracy has been regressing under Prime Minister Hun Manet, with the persecution of political officers.
Government lawyers filed a complaint on February 14, 2024, accusing Vannol of impairing the image of the head of the Cambodian government. Vannol was allowed to return home after being questioned on Thursday.
During the three-hour interrogation, deputy prosecutor Plang Sophal questioned Vannol over his interview with Nikkei Asia. The report, published in February, quoted him as saying that Cambodia’s democracy has regressed since Manet took office. He also mentioned that the government allegedly installed security cameras to monitor the activities of Candlelight leaders.
“What I said reflects the truth in our society which I observed. It is my personal opinion that since Hun Manet took up the role [Prime Minister] […] there has been restriction and arrests of opposition party activists who expressed their opinion,” Vannol told reporters as he left the courthouse.
He also raised the case of vocal government critic Ny Nak in the Nikkei Asia interview where he said Nak was “merely exercising his right to freedom of expression”.
“Cambodia’s democracy process has been regressing since Hun Manet took office. It is not better [but] it is getting worse,” Vannol said.
“For example, they accused me of saying that the ‘government’ set up security cameras to monitor Candlelight leaders’ activities, however, I did not use the word ‘government’. I said the relevant authority set up cameras [security] to monitor the activities of Candlelight party leaders.
“The court has a right to summon me for questioning whether it is true or not. For me, it doesn’t matter, and I am not concerned,” Vannol said.
Deputy prosecutor Plang Sophal told CamboJA via Telegram that the questioning is complete and will follow with the next procedure.
Sophal declined to give a specific reply when a reporter asked whether Vannol will be charged. “I think if the reporter reads the Criminal Procedure Code, they will surely be able to find the answer.”
Vannol’s lawyer Choung Choungy said his client expressed his opinion based on reality, and urged the court to drop the accusation.
“What he raised in public and shared in an interview is true. It is not wrong unless what he raised isn’t true and was dishonorable. Then, that is a mistake,” he said.
NGO rights group Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath called on Cambodian politicians to come to the table to negotiate to ensure development and reform for better democracy and human rights.
“The current human rights situation is restricted in Cambodia,” he said. “I think all politicians can talk to each other about all those matters, it should not [be seen] as criticism [as it is] related to freedom of political space,” Sam Ath said.
He also reminded UN Human Rights experts’ call on Cambodia to end all acts of harassment and prosecution against human rights defenders, civil society activists, and politicians who have either been summoned or arrested by the authorities for acts related to their civic work.
Government lawyer Ky Tech could not be reached for comment, while government spokesperson Pen Bona declined to comment.
