Seven former CNRP activists tried of inciting people to overthrow Cambodian government

 


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

Seven former CNRP officials were charged in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in connection with inciting the people to go against the government and the King via Facebook between 2018 and 2021. 

The five men - Long Ry, Men Thavarin, Morn Phalla, Monh Sarath, and Mich Heang – and two women - Kim Tola, and Lanh Thavry were charged with “incitement to commit a felony” under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code while Mich Heang was charged with two counts on “incitement to commit a felony and insulting the King” under Articles 494, 495 and 437 of the Criminal Code. 

Thavry, 33, a former CNRP commune chief, and Heang, 34, a labourer, were in the dock when the charges were read but the other five accused are at large. 


During the hearing yesterday, Thavry said he had used Facebook to express his opinions and not to incite the people to revolt. 

When Heang was questioned, he said he had also used Facebook to post his opinions and added that he did not do it to insult the king. 

Judge Khun Sona, in reading out the facts of the case, said Thavry had on January 7, 2019, posted on Facebook: “that was the day our Khmer people fell into the hands of Vietnam (under Vietnamese control) because Hun Sen was a Vietnamese puppet for 40 years”. 

“On January 28, 2019, Thavry wrote: “the dictator’s order is to shoot, kill or arrest or destroy their opponents in order to keep the peace for “Hun” family (or dynasty) and their allies. 

“On February 22, 2019, Thavry wrote: “Hun Sen is the leader who has the highest will to serve foreign interests: China and Vietnam. Hun Sen never think of the interests of the Cambodian people.” 

“On May 20, 2019, she wrote ‘stand up with the CNRP and all our patriotic heroes to fight for the change of our poor Cambodia from the dictatorship! Bravo! Immortal Cambodia’,” the judge said.

Judge Sona said on September 14, 2019, Mich Heang wrote on Facebook that “Kings, like ordinary people, are strong and weak.” 

“Comparing the latest king and the current king is as different as heaven and earth. King Sihanouk was the last king to protect the weak people suffering from the injustice of the dictatorship or the rich people (capitalists).” 

“But if we look at the king today, we see that he did not come forward to help protect the people who are suffering from injustices, such as the seizure of houses or land or the arrest of Cambodians who dare to demand justice from the authorities. 

“The king today does not open his eyes to see the suffering of the people. 

“On December 20, 2019, Heang wrote: “The king issued a royal decree to give land to Vietnam. Therefore, every Khmer must wake up! Otherwise, our Cambodia will be lost.” 

Judge Sona said that Thavry and Heang’s Facebook postings were shared by the other five accused who are at large and that the postings were viewed by hundreds of thousands of Facebook readers. 

He said that if the accused’s posting violates Cambodian laws, they will be punished according to the law. 



Thavry and Heang’s lawyer Sam Sokong said Thavry and Heang were expressing their concerns and opinions in their Facebook postings, which are within their rights guaranteed by the Constitution as well as international laws. 

A verdict is due on August 10.

 

 

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