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Cambodian to appeal jail sentence for Facebook comment Cambodian to appeal jail sentence for Facebook comment
(35 minutes later)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A Cambodian student’s lawyer says he plans to appeal a jail sentence his client received for making a reference on his Facebook page to a “color revolution” in the country. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A Cambodian student plans to appeal an 18-month jail sentence he received for making a reference on his Facebook page to a “color revolution” in the country, his lawyer said Wednesday.
Kong Raiya, a student at Khemarak University in Phnom Penh, was sentenced by the Phnom Penh municipal court on Tuesday to 18 months in jail on charges of incitement to commit a felony. Kong Raiya, a student at Khemarak University in Phnom Penh, was sentenced by the Phnom Penh municipal court on Tuesday on charges of incitement to commit a felony.
He was arrested for posting a comment on Facebook in which he asked if anyone would “dare to make a color revolution with me?” The term refers to peaceful anti-government protests and movements in recent years, including in the countries from the former Soviet bloc. He was arrested for posting a comment on Facebook in which he asked if anyone would “dare to make a color revolution with me?” The term refers to peaceful anti-government protests and movements in recent years, including in countries from the former Soviet bloc.
Defense lawyer Sam Sokong said Wednesday that he was preparing documents for an appeal in the Appeals Court next week. Defense lawyer Sam Sokong said he was preparing documents for an appeal in the Appeals Court next week.
“It is an unacceptable conviction and surprised all of us,” he told The Associated Press, adding that the sentence his client received is in the maximum range prescribed by law.
Incitement to commit a felony is punishable by a jail term ranging from six months to two years. Kong Raiya has already served eight months in prison since his arrest on Aug. 21, a month after Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the military to eradicate any group or people who want to topple his government through a “color revolution.”
Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy expressed regret that the student was jailed for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
“Kong Raiya was unjustly sentenced today to 18 months in prison only for suggesting a ‘color revolution’ meaning a democratic and peaceful change for Cambodia,” Sam Rainsy said on his Facebook page Tuesday.
“Kong Raiya’s prosecution is actually a message of threat and intimidation from ruling Cambodian People’s Party to the millions of Cambodian youths who share his ideas,” he added.
Opposition groups and activists have criticized Hun Sen, one of the longest-serving leaders in the world, for not tolerating dissent, and using government machinery to do so.
“The courts in Cambodia are just like that,” Kong Raiya said after his sentencing, before being taken away in a prison van. “They are unjust not only to me, but for all Cambodians.”
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.