Cambodian Opposition Leader Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

Sun Chanthy, leader of the Nation Power Party, was convicted of inciting social disorder, banned from politics, and fined, in what critics call a politically motivated case.

• Sun Chanthy, president of Cambodia's Nation Power Party, was sentenced to two years in prison, fined $1,000, and permanently barred from voting or running for office.
• The charges stemmed from comments Chanthy made during a meeting in Japan, where he criticized the government's social welfare policies and called for more freedom for opposition parties.
• Critics allege the case is part of a broader crackdown on political opponents under Prime Minister Hun Manet, continuing a pattern established during his father Hun Sen's nearly four-decade rule.
• Chanthy’s lawyer condemned the trial as unjust, noting his client did not attend the hearing due to the physical difficulty of traveling 600 kilometers while in detention.
• Cambodia's government has faced longstanding accusations of using its judicial system to silence dissent, with similar charges brought this year against union leaders, activists, and journalists.

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