- Title: Cambodia's democracy in danger, says opposition deputy leader
- Date: 4th September 2017
- Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2017) (REUTERS) STREET TRAFFIC OUTSIDE JOMA CAFE RESTAURANT OPPOSITION PARTY DEPUTY LEADER, MU SOKCHUA, TAKING HER SEAT AT THE RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY LEADER OF THE CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP), MU SOKCHUA, SAYING: "The scenario is to take him out of the competition in 2018 election. They have already taken out Mr. Sam Rainsy, the former leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party and now Mr. Kem Sokha. What is in real trouble, in danger right now is democracy, with it Cambodia as a whole." MU SOKCHUA SPEAKING TO REPORTER MU SOKCHUA'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY LEADER OF THE CAMBODIA NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY (CNRP), MU SOKCHUA, SAYING: "I am very sure that Mr. Hun Sen wants to be recognised as a legitimate leader of a country, of a government that is democratically chosen by the people. I think that donors (donor countries) must hear between a threat and obligations." MU SOKCHUA SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW
- Embargoed: 18th September 2017 12:17
- Keywords: Hun Sen elections opposition foreign interference crackdown
- Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- City: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- Country: Cambodia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0026X6KIF9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Foreign donors must open their eyes to Cambodia's "false democracy" and put more pressure on Prime Minister Hun Sen after the arrest for treason of his main rival, Kem Sokha, a top opposition figure said on Monday (September 4).
Hun Sen, who has pulled in billions of dollars in Chinese loans and become one of Beijing's closest regional allies, vowed to resist foreign interference, following international criticism of the arrest of Kem Sokha for treason and a widening crackdown on his critics.
Mu Sochua, 63, who is one of three deputies to Kem Sokha in the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), known internationally for campaigns against sex trafficking and for women's rights, said democracy was in danger and donor countries "must hear between a threat and obligations."
Kem Sokha was arrested on Sunday (September 3) and accused of plotting treason with the United States in an escalating crackdown on Hun Sen's critics that has also targeted independent media and rights groups in the run-up to an election next year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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