Cambodian democracy in strife

Australia has expressed deep concerns about a court ban on Cambodia's main opposition party.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ruled the southeast Asian nation for 32 years. (AAP)

WHY IS CAMBODIA'S DEMOCRACY IN TROUBLE?

* Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former commander in Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime which presided over a genocide, has ruled the southeast Asian nation for 32 years.

* Cambodia heads to the polls in July next year and the main opposition party was presenting a strong challenge and has faced a kneecapping from the government.

* The Supreme Court has dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party and banned its MPs from being engaged in politics for five years.

* Opposition Leader Kem Sokha was arrested for treason in September.

* In September, the government ordered the independent newspaper Cambodian Daily to close and slugged it with a huge tax bill.

* Political commentator Kem Ley who was a critic of the government was assassinated in Phnom Penh in July.

* Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy escaped to France in 2015 to avoid a defamation case.

* The Cambodia government has accused the US of supporting the opposition.


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Source: AAP


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