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Blinken meets Cambodian opposition leader

#Blinken #meets #Cambodian #opposition #leader

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met a Cambodian opposition leader accused of treason during a visit to Phnom Penh on Friday and expressed his concerns about the kingdom’s eroding democracy ahead of next year’s elections.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has ruled Cambodia for more than 37 years. In 2018, his party won all the seats in a national election.

And in June a court in Phnom Penh convicted some 60 opposition figures – including dual US-Cambodian citizen Theary Seng – in a mass treason trial that rights groups have condemned as politically motivated.

Blinken said he directly expressed his concerns about the kingdom’s ailing democracy during talks with Hun Sen when he visited the Cambodian capital for the Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting.

Broader participation in the political system would strengthen the country, the foreign minister told reporters on Friday.

“One of the things standing in the way of strengthening ties between our countries is our concerns about the erosion of respect for human rights and democratic institutions here in Cambodia,” he said.

Washington’s top diplomat said he earlier Friday met Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha, who is on trial for treason in a case that has dragged on since January 2020 – and which could effectively bar him from next year’s national election.

During the talks with Hun Sen, Blinken also addressed the Theary Seng case. The outspoken lawyer and activist was sentenced to six years in prison in June’s treason case.

Hun Sen and his ruling party have publicly backed the prime minister’s eldest son – currently commander of the army – to eventually take over the reins.

Ahead of local elections two months ago, the United Nations Human Rights Office said it was concerned by reports of opposition obstruction in a “crippling political environment”.

Hun Sen’s political party later announced a landslide victory.

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