Seng Theary makes visual point in court again


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

Seng Theary, an opposition activist charged with incitement, arrived at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday donned in a costume as a Chinese peasant after walking three hours to get there. 

Theary is the founding president of the Center for Cambodian Civic Education (CIVICUS) and founder of the Cambodian Center for Justice & Reconciliation (CCJR). 

Presiding Judge Ros Piseth said that Theary was charged with two counts of “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest and plotting” under Articles 494, 495 and 453 of the Criminal Code for her posts on Facebook in 2018 and 2019.

She faces between five and 10 years in prison. 

Judge Piseth said the court has shown Theary favor by granting her bail rather than detaining her while she is on trial for a criminal case. 

 However, he admonished her for creating difficulties during court hearings and even insulting Cambodia’s judiciary, daring to call the Supreme Court a “Ting Mong” (puppet). 

Theary, who dressed up as a traditional Chinese peasant wearing long braided hair at the back and black clothes, said that she raised more complaints to the judges’ council because her fundamental rights were violated by the Cambodian court.

 The hearing will continue on March 1. 

At yesterday’s trial, Theary alleged that the court violated the law by charging her without first summoning her for questioning or informing her of the charges in a timely manner, and not providing court documentation for yesterday’s hearing which would allow her to prepare a defence. 

When she asked the judge’s council to dismiss the case, Judge Piseth denied the request and continued the hearing. 

Judges’ Council member Sin Chakrya read Theary’s Facebook post dated October 1, 2019 that said: “Hun Sen regime is good at promoting only fake culture, the fake elections, and making fake history.”

 “Hun Sen and his children purchased fake doctorate degrees from foreign universities and a second type of degree to show off the Cambodian people and their supporters in the country,” Judge Chakrya continued. 

She added that Theary also incited people to wake up to go against the government and join with Sam Rainsy’s illegal movement aimed to overthrow the legal government. 

In response to the evidence, Theary denied the allegation, saying that she did not write the words but only shared Rainsy’s message. 

She admitted that she supported Rainsy’s November 9, 2019 repatriation plan and was against the dissolving of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party by the Supreme Court. 

“Every day, I always criticised by Cambodian leaders,” said Theary. “I dislike the government because it is a dictatorship government, is an unconstitutional and undemocratic regime and violated its citizens’ rights.”  


CAPTION: Opposition activist and Cambodian-US lawyer Seng Theary leaves the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on February 22, 2022.  By Buth Reaksmey Kongkea





 

 

 

 


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