{"id":4092,"date":"2020-12-29T22:37:30","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T22:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=144540"},"modified":"2020-12-29T22:37:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T22:37:30","slug":"cambodian-court-begins-mass-trial-of-opposition-officials-activists-for-treason-and-incitement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/29\/cambodian-court-begins-mass-trial-of-opposition-officials-activists-for-treason-and-incitement\/","title":{"rendered":"Cambodian Court Begins Mass Trial of Opposition Officials, Activists For \u2018Treason\u2019 and \u2018Incitement\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
A court in Cambodia on Tuesday began a trial of acting opposition chief Sam Rainsy and 20 other party members charged with organizing a \u201ccoup,\u201d inciting soldiers to disobey orders, and \u201cincitement to cause serious social chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, authorities arrested two relatives of defendants from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) who held a protest outside the building demanding that their loved ones be freed and the charges against them dropped.<\/p>\n
Thirteen of the defendants were summoned to the court from pre-trial detention, appearing one by one throughout the morning, according to defense attorney Sam Sokong.<\/p>\n
Seven of the defendants include senior CNRP officials currently taking refuge overseas in self-imposed exile: acting party President Sam Rainsy, deputy presidents Eng Chhay Eang and Mu Sochua, Sam Rainsy\u2019s wife Tioulong Saumura, and former parliamentarians Tok Vanchan, Ho Vann, and Ou Chanrith.<\/p>\n
One other defendant, Svay Rieng province-based CNRP activist Hin Chhin, was released from detention on bail due to a serious medical condition and was not present in court on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Sam Sokong told RFA\u2019s Khmer Service that the judge refused a request to try the defendants separately because their \u201ccharges are related,\u201d despite the lawyer\u2019s earlier complaint that a mass trial would require more time for each to testify. The court ordered the hearing to resume on Jan. 22.<\/p>\n
\u201cA large number of them have been detained for a long time\u2014some for almost a year,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we don\u2019t rush to end the case, it will seriously impact them.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the proceedings took place on Tuesday, supporters and relatives of some of the jailed CNRP members gathered in front of the court, including women from the \u201cFriday Wives\u201d group that has held weekly protests to demand their release\u2014in some cases leading to violent dispersals by authorities.<\/p>\n
Security forces from the 7 Makara district pushed those assembled outside of the court, including women and children, and chased protesters away from the building, sources said.<\/p>\n
Police also arrested \u201cFriday Wives\u201d leaders Sok Bolyma and Kim Sokuniza for allegedly failing to apply for a permit to protest.<\/p>\n
Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesman San Sok Seiha told RFA that, as of the afternoon of Dec. 29, the two women were being questioned in connection with the gathering but did not specify what action the police might take.<\/p>\n
Protester Seng Chanthorn told RFA that the 7 Makara district security forces \u201cviolently assaulted\u201d the women protesters and children of opposition activists.<\/p>\n
She said that instead of cracking down on relatives, the authorities should have allowed them to visit with the defendants and provide them with food. However, she said she was not surprised by the response and vowed to continue holding protests until all of the detained CNRP activists are returned to their families.<\/p>\n