Court Tried Ex-CNRP Activist over Incitement


 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 26, 2022 heard the case of a CNRP activist who allegedly incited people to go against the government through a live post on Facebook saying that there are divisions and disagreements between supporters of Prime Minister Hun Sen and those who support Interior Minister Sar Kheng. 

Judge Chhun Davy identified the accused as Voeurn Veasna, 36, a novice monk from Stung Treng province’s Thalaborivat district. 

She said that the accused, who also badly criticized the government’s measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Codes. 

 Judge Davy added that Veasna was arrested on November 8 in Thailand. He was arrested by Thai police in accordance with a Cambodian court warrant. 

She added that after his arrest, he was transferred to Cambodian police and detained in prison on November 11.

 During the hearing yesterday, the court displayed a video clip, dated April 19, which Veasna broadcast live via an online newspaper named “SPN-News”, which was owned by group of ex- CNRP youths based in Thailand. 

In the video clip, Veasna alleged that there were disagreements between Mr Hun Sen’s and Kheng’s supporters and gave reasons for what he claimed was a split among the two. 

Judge Davy said that Veasna’s statements are not true but aimed to incite people to create social unrest and go against the government. 

At his trial yesterday, Veansa denied the allegations. He claimed that the person in the video clip was not him and that it was not his voice. 

Veansa said that his photo and the voice in the video clips were forged and faked.  They are not him. 

“I know nothing and am innocent. Please the court drop my charge and release me from prison,” he said.

 The hearing will continue on February 3.

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