ASEANEWS-COURTS & CRIME | BANGKOK: France condemns killing of Cambodian politician in Thailand
File photo shows Lim Kimya during an interview in Phnom Penh. PHOTO: AFP
.
..
FREE ASEAN
FREE MYANMAR/CAMBODIA/THAILAND /LAOS
FREE Aung San Suu Kyi
.
BANGKOK (AFP) – France has condemned the killing of a Cambodian opposition politician, who was also a French citizen, in a brazen attack in Thailand.
Cambodian opposition figures have accused the country’s powerful ex-leader Hun Sen of ordering the shooting of Lim Kimya on Tuesday.
Lim Kimya, a former lawmaker for the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was gunned down by a motorcyclist as he arrived in Bangkok by bus from Cambodia with his French wife.
|
|
…
“France condemns the murder of Lim Kimya, a French national and member of the Cambodian opposition, which happened on January 7 in Thailand,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“France will follow the Thai authorities’ investigation closely to cast as much light as possible on the facts.”
Police in Cambodia arrested the suspected shooter on Wednesday, and Thailand has requested his return. Cambodian police named the suspect as Ekkalak Pheanoi – though some Thai media gave his name as Ekkalak Paenoi – and said he was a former Thai marine.
Scores of Cambodian opposition activists have fled to Thailand in recent years to avoid alleged repression at home. Some were arrested and deported back to the country.
Hun Sen ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for nearly four decades, with rights groups accusing him of using the legal system to crush opposition to his rule.
|
|
…
He stepped down and handed power to his son Hun Manet in 2023 but is still seen as a major power in the kingdom. Sam Rainsy, Hun Sen’s long-time rival who lives in France, accused the former Cambodian leader of orchestrating the killing.
A Cambodian government spokesman denied any involvement in the incident.
|
|
Memento Maxima Digital Marketing@
