Another mass trial of CNRP activists starts

 


 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on September 15, 2022 started the trial of former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and 38 former CNRP activists for conspiring to overthrow the government with the planned return of CNRP’s vice president Mua Sochua from the United States in 2021.

Only three of the activists – Kong Mas, 34, former CNRP activist in Svay Rieng province; Voeung Samnang, 37, former CNRP’s Chaktomuk commune deputy chief; and Khan Bunpheng, 66, former CRNP’s Prek Preah Sdach commune chief.

The rest, including Sam Rainsy and his wife Tioulong Saumura; Eng Chhay Eng, Nuth Ramduol, Long Ry, Ou Chanrith, and Mua Sochua are living in exile abroad.

Presiding Judge Ouk Reth Kunthear said they are all charged with “plotting” under Article 453 of the Criminal Code and face jail terms of between five and 10 years if convicted.

Judge Kunthear said in January 2021, Rainsy announced the second plan for his supporters' return to Cambodia after his planned repatriation on November 9, 2019, failed.

The second plan, she said, involved Mua Sochua, the former CNRP vice president, leading supporters will be led the former CNRP’s delegates from the United States to Phnom Penh on January 17, 2021.

“According to Sochua’s announcement posted on social media and Facebok, her return was to attend her hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court at that time.

“But their return was not successful because they were not allowed to board the plane because they did not have visas issued by the Cambodian government,” she said.

She said many former CNRP supporters and some of the accused had gathered their supporters to travel to Phnom Penh to greet Sochua and the former CNRP delegates.

She said the charge was that Rainsy, Sochua and the other accused were planning to create chaos and overthrow the government.

At yesterday’s hearing, Kong Mas denied the charges against him denying that he was in the plot to overthrow the government.

Mass said that on the day of his arrest on January 4, 2021, he had traveled to meet a group of social activists in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court who was holding vigil for a group of the CNRP activists who were on trial.

Mas said that at that time, Rainsy, Sochua and other former CNRP activists were tried in absentia along with a group of their former CNRP activists by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with incitement and plotting.

“I would like to deny my charge because I did not commit anything as accused,” Mass said.

“I went to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court at that time because I wanted to see the former CNRP’s activities who had been jailed and were brought from the prison to attend their hearing.

“I wanted to see them. This is the truth and I ask the court to give me justice,” he said.

Mass said he was convicted in 2019 by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to 18 months in prison for “incitement” under Articles 495 and 502 of the Criminal Code.

He was released from prison on July 23, 2020, after he had served his jail term.

He added that he has never contacted Rainsy, Sochua, or other former CNRP senior officers after his release from prison.

The hearing continues on September 22.

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