Cambodian court orders early release of 5 activists| Local News

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – A Cambodian appeals court on Friday ordered the early release of five activists, including a prominent union leader who has long criticized the government.

The Phnom Penh appeals court said it ordered the release of Rong Chhun and four others later today, but gave no immediate details of its decision.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions, has been in detention since July 2020 after the government claimed to have disseminated false information about Cambodia’s border with Vietnam – a sensitive issue of political importance in the country.

He was convicted in August and sentenced to two years in prison for inciting social unrest.

His lawyer, Sam Sokong, said the court reduced that sentence to 15 months and 11 days, including time served.

The release of two co-defendants, Ton Nimol and Sar Kanika, was also sentenced for incitement to commit a crime. They were each arrested in August 2020 while demonstrating for the release of Rong Chhun, and each was sentenced to 20 months in prison in the same trial as him.

Two other activists involved in an unrelated case were also ordered to be released.

Trade union leaders such as Rong Chhun hold significant political influence in Cambodia as they represent the large number of workers in the country’s textile industry, which is one of the main export earnings. Major unions have historically aligned themselves with political opposition to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Rong Chhun served on the national electoral committee of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party before its dissolution by court order in 2017, ahead of the 2018 general elections.

The party’s dissolution was generally seen as intended to secure victory for Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party. Hun Sen has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of leading an authoritarian regime.