Cambodia trying to silence me, says opposition leader
Cambodia opposition party leader Sam Rainsy. [Reuters]Thursday, September 23, 2010
Zulfikar Abbany
Australia Network News
The Cambodian opposition leader in exile, Sam Rainsy, says the government has used a subservient court to try to silence him.
He was sentenced to a further 10 years in prison in absentia over a border dispute that involves Vietnam.
Mr Rainsy says he has maps - internationally verified - to prove that Vietnam has been moving border posts further and further into Cambodia.
He says Cambodian farmers are losing valuable land.
Crack down
It is not the first time that he has been sentenced in absentia.
Mr Rainsy, in self-imposed exile in France, told Radio Australia: "The current government is using a politically subservient court to crack down on critics of the government."
He accuses Vietnam of using its influence over Cambodian in the case.
He has been fined for spreading disinformation and received a two-year sentence in January.
He was sentenced to a further 10 years in prison in absentia over a border dispute that involves Vietnam.
Mr Rainsy says he has maps - internationally verified - to prove that Vietnam has been moving border posts further and further into Cambodia.
He says Cambodian farmers are losing valuable land.
Crack down
It is not the first time that he has been sentenced in absentia.
Mr Rainsy, in self-imposed exile in France, told Radio Australia: "The current government is using a politically subservient court to crack down on critics of the government."
He accuses Vietnam of using its influence over Cambodian in the case.
He has been fined for spreading disinformation and received a two-year sentence in January.
