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A Phnom Penh court docket convicted a Cambodian-American lawyer and scores of members of an opposition occasion for treason on Tuesday.
Lawyer and activist Theary Seng and greater than 100 folks affiliated with the dissolved Cambodia Nationwide Rescue Occasion (CNRP) have been beforehand charged with treason and incitement.
Earlier than her sentence was handed on Tuesday, Seng stood outdoors the court docket, dressed as Girl Liberty in a lightweight inexperienced robe and a crown with “Freedom” written on it. She was seen shouting “free the political prisoners.”
Seng predicted that the regime led by Prime Minister Hun Sen would “not let me go free.”
“It will likely be an unfair and unjust verdict as a result of I’m harmless, the others charged with me are harmless,” the 51-year-old added.
“I’m prepared and ready to go to the infamous Cambodian jail for my political views, for my beliefs, for my perception in democracy, for my perception in freedom. I’m able to pay the value of jail so that I reside out my conscience and my perception in freedom and justice,” she advised reporters.
The media and onlookers noticed at the least three cops method Seng, maintain her, and push her right into a police truck quickly after the decision. The trial is being seen as the newest transfer to curb opposition within the Asian nation.
Seng was simply one in every of about 60 defendants who obtained a prolonged jail time period on Tuesday.
German lawmaker slams verdict
The German lawmaker within the Bundestag Renata Alt, from the business-focused Free Democrats (FDP) and chief of the committee on human rights and humanitarian support, condemned on Tuesday the “jail sentence given to the lawyer and human rights activist Theary Seng by a justice system managed by the authoritarian strongman Hun Sen.”
“The conviction on the grounds of alleged excessive treason is a draconian punishment and a bitter outcome following the disputed proceedings,” Alt mentioned.
“It is only one of many absurd convictions,” she added.
Sixty defendants sentenced
After the decision, Seng’s lawyer Chuong Choungy mentioned he would file an attraction.
“This isn’t acceptable and I’ll meet her in jail to debate interesting,” he advised reporters outdoors the Phnom Penh municipal court docket. Accouding to Choungy, Seng is just one of about 60 co-defendants who had been sentenced to between 5 to eight years in jail.
Seng has been sentenced to 6 years in jail. Lots of the 60 defendants earlier fled to exile or went into hiding, and it wasn’t instantly clear what number of appeared in court docket for the decision Tuesday.
Seng has a historical past of utilizing costumes to publicize her opinions concerning the standing of democracy in Cambodia. She has beforehand worn a white gown and carried a steadiness to painting Girl Justice, and has additionally appeared in orange garments resembling these of a prisoner.
The US embassy spokesperson Chad Roedemeier mentioned the US was “deeply troubled by at present’s unjust verdicts.”
Hun Sen in energy for near 4 a long time
Cambodian courts are broadly believed to be working underneath the affect of Sen, who has been in energy for 37 years.
The CNRP was his occasion’s greatest rival earlier than it was disbanded by a court docket ruling simply forward of nationwide elections in 2018. Its founder Kem Sokha has been accused of conspiring with the US to overthrown Sen. The claims have been denied by Sokha and Washington.
Sen has said his intention to remain in workplace till 2028 and has endorsed one in every of his sons to succeed him.
Opposition chief Sam Rainsy has been in exile in France since 2016 to keep away from serving jail sentences on defamation and different fees he says are politically motivated. He has obtained an eight-year jail time period in absentia.
tg/dj (AFP, Reuters)
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