Sam Rainsy (R) and his deputy Kem Sokha (L) have been summoned to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 14 for questioning.
Last updated: 05 Jan 2014
Al Jazeera TV
Cambodia's opposition leaders have been summoned to court on suspicion of inciting civil unrest, their party said, after the government of strongman premier Hun Sen moved to suppress growing street protests.
Hun Sen faces an increasing challenge to his nearly three-decade rule from striking garment workers as well as opposition supporters demanding that he step down and call a new election because of alleged vote fraud.
Police have indefinitely banned further rallies, including one which had been planned for Sunday, after several demonstrators were shot dead on Friday.
Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha have been summoned to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 14 for questioning "in the case of incitement to commit criminal offences or serious social unrest", according to warrants posted on the opposition website late Saturday.
Rainsy told reporters they were ready to defend themselves at the hearing.
"We have done nothing wrong. On the contrary, it will be an opportunity for us to help expose the truth," he said.
Widespread vote-rigging
The opposition party has boycotted parliament since the July election, alleging that Hun Sen was returned to power because of widespread vote-rigging.
The 61-year-old prime minister has ruled for 28 years and vowed to continue until he is 74.
He has faced mounting criticism over his rights record as well as accusations of excessive force against demonstrators.
On Friday police opened fire on striking garment factory employees demanding a minimum wage of $160 per month for their work in an industry which supplies brands like Gap, Nike and H&M.
Rights activists said at least four civilians were shot dead in what they described as the country's worst state violence against its citizens in 15 years.
A day later dozens of security personnel armed with shields and batons chased hundreds of protesters - including monks, women and children - from their rally base in a park in the capital, according to activists.
Police and civilian thugs "used metre-long steel poles to beat and intimidate the peaceful protesters" before tearing down the rally site, according to the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.
Freedom Park, also known as Democracy Park, was opened by the government in 2010 as a designated area for people to air their grievances, and protesters had occupied the site since last month as part of demonstrations against the contested election.
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1 comment:
Police stated that rock throwers initiated violence and that was the reason they used special force to kill garment facotry protesters. And, yet, there were many civilian, a non police, nor state security, by dressing just like any civilian with tying red ribbon on theirs arm to recognize their gang group, roaming around in freedom park and start beating people. Now, should not police who suppose eat Khmer food and in return protect Khmer? Why are thy not arrest these gangsters who were beating people? They were clearly violated the law, committed crime, inflicted bodily harm on others? Whey garment factory protester were murdered with AK 47 and these gangster beating up people at freedom park with impunity? Then, Hun Sen turned around blaming Kem Soka, and Sam Rainsy of inciting? Man, that is just totally suck! Hun Sen Euy! Chouse Chen Tao! Hun Sen, you must step down. Stop trying to be Vietnames by making a speech in Vietnamese to foul they you are one of them. They use you. Once your usefullness is done they will kill you. Later, you are a liability to them. They will not protect you.
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