Cambodia - May 2023

The main opposition party, the Candlelight Party (CLP), was disqualified from competing in July’s national election. Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC) refused to accept the CLP application for July polls because it didn’t include a notarized copy of the party’s registration document. The decision was then confirmed by the Constitutional Council, which rejected CPL’s appeal against NEC's ruling. The CLP, which captured around 22 percent of the popular vote at commune elections in 2022, was seen as the only party challenging the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). As the main opposition party, the CLP has faced constant intimidation and pressure, including politically motivated lawsuits and violent attacks on opposition activists and supporters. Analysts and human rights groups argue that CLP exclusion guarantees CPP and its current leader, Hun Sen, victory in what will be elections that are neither free nor fair. 

Sources: Voice of America (1), Voice of America (2), The Diplomat, British Broadcasting Corporation

Chhim Sithar, president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, was sentenced to two years in prison for incitement to commit a felony under criminal code articles 494 and 495. Chhim Sithar has been leading a strike since December 2021 in protest against the NagaWorld casino’s dismission of 373 employees amid financial struggles. Sithar was sentenced in January 2022 and released on bail in March 2022; she was then re-arrested in November 2022 for violating bail conditions on international travel. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have asked for the immediately suspension of the convictions and unconditionally release.

Similar sentences were given to three staff members of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC), a community organization that defends land rights of farmers. If convicted on all charges, they could face between five to ten years in prison, and fines.

Sources: Bangkok Post, Associated Press, Radio Free Asia, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch