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| Cambodia's strongman PM digs in with arrest of opposition leader | Cambodia's strongman PM digs in with arrest of opposition leader |
| (6 days later) | |
| The Cambodian opposition leader, Kem Sokha, has been arrested accused of treason, according to the government, in the latest of a flurry of legal cases lodged against critics and rivals of the strongman prime minister, Hun Sen. | The Cambodian opposition leader, Kem Sokha, has been arrested accused of treason, according to the government, in the latest of a flurry of legal cases lodged against critics and rivals of the strongman prime minister, Hun Sen. |
| The surprise arrest raises the stakes as Hun Sen’s political opponents, NGOs and the critical press are smothered by court cases and threats ahead of a crunch general election in 2018. | The surprise arrest raises the stakes as Hun Sen’s political opponents, NGOs and the critical press are smothered by court cases and threats ahead of a crunch general election in 2018. |
| Hun Sen is determined to extend his three-decade rule and withstand the burgeoning popularity of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue party (CNRP). | Hun Sen is determined to extend his three-decade rule and withstand the burgeoning popularity of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue party (CNRP). |
| The government statement alleged “a secret plan of conspiracy between Kem Sokha, his group, and foreigners that harms Cambodia”, adding he was arrested early on Sunday. | The government statement alleged “a secret plan of conspiracy between Kem Sokha, his group, and foreigners that harms Cambodia”, adding he was arrested early on Sunday. |
| “The above secret conspiracy is the act of treason,” the statement said, without giving further details of the alleged crime. | “The above secret conspiracy is the act of treason,” the statement said, without giving further details of the alleged crime. |
| Kem Sokha is the leader of the CNRP which has been battered by court cases, bans and threats against its key figures. | Kem Sokha is the leader of the CNRP which has been battered by court cases, bans and threats against its key figures. |
| He was handcuffed and “taken away by 100-200 police without warrant after they raided his home”, his daughter Kem Monovithya said in a Twitter post. | He was handcuffed and “taken away by 100-200 police without warrant after they raided his home”, his daughter Kem Monovithya said in a Twitter post. |
| On Saturday night a pro-government website – Fresh News – alleged that Kem Sokha had discussed overthrowing Hun Sen with support from the United States. | On Saturday night a pro-government website – Fresh News – alleged that Kem Sokha had discussed overthrowing Hun Sen with support from the United States. |
| It did not provide any evidence for the claim. | It did not provide any evidence for the claim. |
| Last week the US expressed “deep concern” over the state of Cambodia’s democracy after the government there ordered out an American NGO and pursued a crackdown on independent media. | Last week the US expressed “deep concern” over the state of Cambodia’s democracy after the government there ordered out an American NGO and pursued a crackdown on independent media. |
| Among the media in the firing line is the well-respected Cambodia Daily, which often criticises the government. | Among the media in the firing line is the well-respected Cambodia Daily, which often criticises the government. |
| It faces closure on Monday if it fails to pay a US$6.3m tax bill, a threat it says is a political move to muzzle its critical reporting. | It faces closure on Monday if it fails to pay a US$6.3m tax bill, a threat it says is a political move to muzzle its critical reporting. |