Relatives of Cambodian opposition members and activists jailed for up to 20 years for insurrection over clashes at a protest expressed shock Wednesday at the severe sentences, decrying them as politically-motivated.
The ruling, which saw three of the 11 activists receive 20-year sentences, triggered a fresh criticism against strongman premier Hun Sen for stepping up his suppression of dissent in a kingdom he has led for more than three decades.
The jail terms for the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) campaigners follow clashes between protesters and authorities last July during a demonstration over the closure of Freedom Park, a key site for public rallies in Phnom Penh.
Oeur Narin, the younger brother of activist Oeur Narith, who was jailed for 20 years on Tuesday, said his sibling had joined the protest but was not involved in any violence and that his role had been "embellished".
"It is an entirely political case... He was falsely accused of being an instigator," said Narin, calling on CNRP leaders to help find a "political resolution" to free his brother.
The wife of Sum Puthy, a local councillor who was jailed for seven years over the same protest, described breaking down in tears as she watched police handcuff her husband and drive him away from Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
"My husband is not guilty. This case is totally politically motivated. He did not beat anyone," said Mak Chan.
The 40-year-old added that the convictions were being used "to scare opposition supporters".
The insurrection charges levelled against the activists last year came during a protracted political standoff between the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the CNRP.
At the time opposition lawmakers were refusing to take their seats in parliament, alleging that a 2013 general election had been rigged.
But their year-long boycott ended a week after the charges were laid against the activists with the CNRP taking its seats in parliament in return for electoral reforms.
Several of its MPs are also accused of insurrection over the protest but their trials have not yet started.
On Wednesday the CNRP released a statement expressing its "surprise and strong regret" over the sentences doled out to its activists.
Their imprisonment "renews political tension once again" and is not in keeping with the spirit of the agreement reached with the CPP last year, the party said.
Hun Sen has conducted Cambodia's politics for more than three decades, tolerating little dissent and keeping his rivals on the back-foot through a mix of court cases, crackdowns and occasional compromises.
The international community has voiced strong concern over the legislation, passed last week, saying it will expose campaigners on flashpoint issues such as land grabbing and human rights abuses to prosecution.
Relatives of Cambodian opposition members and activists jailed for up to 20 years for insurrection over clashes at a protest expressed shock Wednesday at the severe sentences, decrying them as politically-motivated.
The ruling, which saw three of the 11 activists receive 20-year sentences, triggered a fresh criticism against strongman premier Hun Sen for stepping up his suppression of dissent in a kingdom he has led for more than three decades.
The jail terms for the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) campaigners follow clashes between protesters and authorities last July during a demonstration over the closure of Freedom Park, a key site for public rallies in Phnom Penh.
Oeur Narin, the younger brother of activist Oeur Narith, who was jailed for 20 years on Tuesday, said his sibling had joined the protest but was not involved in any violence and that his role had been “embellished”.
“It is an entirely political case… He was falsely accused of being an instigator,” said Narin, calling on CNRP leaders to help find a “political resolution” to free his brother.
The wife of Sum Puthy, a local councillor who was jailed for seven years over the same protest, described breaking down in tears as she watched police handcuff her husband and drive him away from Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
“My husband is not guilty. This case is totally politically motivated. He did not beat anyone,” said Mak Chan.
The 40-year-old added that the convictions were being used “to scare opposition supporters”.
The insurrection charges levelled against the activists last year came during a protracted political standoff between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the CNRP.
At the time opposition lawmakers were refusing to take their seats in parliament, alleging that a 2013 general election had been rigged.
But their year-long boycott ended a week after the charges were laid against the activists with the CNRP taking its seats in parliament in return for electoral reforms.
Several of its MPs are also accused of insurrection over the protest but their trials have not yet started.
On Wednesday the CNRP released a statement expressing its “surprise and strong regret” over the sentences doled out to its activists.
Their imprisonment “renews political tension once again” and is not in keeping with the spirit of the agreement reached with the CPP last year, the party said.
Hun Sen has conducted Cambodia’s politics for more than three decades, tolerating little dissent and keeping his rivals on the back-foot through a mix of court cases, crackdowns and occasional compromises.
The international community has voiced strong concern over the legislation, passed last week, saying it will expose campaigners on flashpoint issues such as land grabbing and human rights abuses to prosecution.
