Cambodia eases up on one dissident to distract attention from another
Nov 14th 2019SINGAPOREON THE DAY that Kem Sokha was released from 14 months of house arrest, he decided to stay at home. The Cambodian opposition leader did meet politely with foreign bigwigs who were at last free to call on him, but declined to address waiting reporters. He was still barred from participating in politics, he explained, and did not know what the courts might construe as a political act. He still awaits trial on trumped-up treason charges. The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which he used to lead, remains banned. And despite a court’s decision on November 10th to ease other restrictions on him, he cannot leave the country.Ironically, the little breathing room Mr Kem Sokha has been afforded is probably thanks to the efforts of his predecessor as leader of the CNRP, Sam Rainsy, to enter Cambodia. In August the former finance minister announced that he would return to Cambodia on November 9th from self-imposed exile in France. (He fled four years ago after being convicted of defamation.) Ahead of his arrival, the government arrested more than 50 people aligned with the opposition. Military reinforcements were sent to the border with Thailand.Choose us for news analysis that respects your time and intelligenceSubscribe to The EconomistWe filter out the noise of the daily news cycle and analyse the trends that matterWe give you rigorous, deeply researched and fact-checked journalism. That’s why Americans named us their most trusted news source in 2017Available wherever you are—in print, digital and, uniquely, in audio, fully narrated by professional broadcastersThis website adheres to all nine of NewsGuard‘s standards of credibility and transparency.ORContinue reading this articleRegister with an email address