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TEHRAN, July 22 -In June last year, Khoeun Virath was elected as a commune councilor in the capital of Cambodia, but months later his political party was banned and most of its leadership fled into exile - so now he works as a tuk-tuk driver to make ends meet.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Virath's story is just one example of how a once-thriving opposition has been silenced and pushed underground by long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and his allies ahead of a general election set for July 29.
The government denies it has set out to sideline critics.
"We have never banned criticisms but we ban insults and incitements because in an election situation, people need security physically and mentally," government spokesman Phay Siphan said.
Hun Sen, who has ruled this Southeast Asian nation for over 30 years, has had virtually no opposition since November when the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the Supreme Court at his government's request. CNRP was narrowly defeated in a 2013 general election.
Amid condemnation from the international community, CNRP leader Kem Sokha was jailed last year on treason charges and almost 5,000 local authority positions his party had won were handed to members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).
"Inside the country, (CNRP members) are completely cut-off from communicating with each other," 30-year-old Khoeun Virath told Reuters at a cafe in Phnom Penh in what was once his constituency. "There is no leadership structure left."
Many Cambodians are afraid to speak about the election, fearing their views could land them in trouble. Hun Sen has accused the United States of supporting the CNRP and plotting a "color revolution" to overthrow his government.
(Source: Reuters)
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