Cambodian Opposition Leader Fined in Defamation Case

A Cambodian court has found Teav Vannol, president of the opposition Candlelight Party, guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay USD 1.5 million in damages. This marks the third conviction against a top leader of the party in under two years, amid claims of political persecution by the government.

A Cambodian court on Thursday found Teav Vannol, president of the opposition Candlelight Party, guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay USD 1.5 million in damages, according to his lawyer and legal observers. Vannol, who holds dual Cambodian-U.S. citizenship, was absent from the court's ruling and is likely outside Cambodia. His lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, stated they would discuss a possible appeal.

This ruling is the third conviction in less than two years against a leading figure of the Candlelight Party. The Cambodian government, often accused of using the legal system to target critics and political rivals, claims to uphold the rule of law under its democratic framework. However, political parties posing a significant threat to the ruling Cambodian People's Party have frequently faced dissolution, incarceration, or harassment.

The accusation against Vannol stemmed from comments in which he stated that democracy was deteriorating under Prime Minister Hun Manet's leadership. Vannol indicated that Manet's governance was more restrictive than his father's, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, pointing out the arrest of opposition politicians and critics. In a February interview in Japan, he remarked that democracy had regressed. Vannol also mentioned a security camera near his home intended to monitor his activities, which he believes was misinterpreted as blaming the government.

(With inputs from agencies.)