Cambodia holding mass trial for opposition members

A Cambodian court has begun hearing the cases of over 100 members and supporters of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) charged with treason in the capital, Phnom Penh, in what has been described as "a sham trial."

Defendants and court staff were seen arriving amid tight security on Thursday, with most of the media being unable to enter what police said was a packed courtroom.

Former opposition senator Thach Setha and Cambodian-American human rights activist and lawyer Theary Seng were among those arriving at the court.

A total of 121 defendants were summoned, but many have fled into exile, convinced they would not get a fair hearing.

The Thursday trial has been condemned by activists as an attempt by Cambodia's long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen to crush his rivals.

The CNRP's former deputy leader Mu Sochua told Reuters that the trial "will be a showcase with a verdict already decided, not by the judges but by the regime," adding that only 50 defendants would appear.

"More than 120 cases on the same date, the same time, by the same judges cannot be a fair trial," said Sochua, whose own trial is at a later date.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Sochua also said that while she and other exiled leaders had been summoned to court, they had been barred from entering the country.

"We cannot return to Cambodia without valid Cambodian travel documents. We want to defend ourselves in court. We demand a fair trial," she wrote on Wednesday.

Ahead of elections in 2018, Cambodia launched a crackdown in which the CNRP was dissolved by the courts and its members were jailed or fled overseas and independent media were closed or sold to government-friendly interests. Hun Sen's party had accused the CNRP of plotting to take power with help from the United States, an allegation denied by the opposition party.

Treason charges against the CNRP's leader Kem Sokha stem from accusations he conspired with the United States to overthrow Hun Sen.

Cambodia accuses US of plotting to overthrow government

Cambodia accused the United States of acting as the "ringleader" of an alleged coup plot in the country.

Other defendants believe they are being punished for advocating the return from exile of Sam Rainsy, Hun Sen's biggest rival during his 35-year rule.

"This is not a legitimate legal proceeding but a show trial, a political theater," said defendant Seng Theary, who said she had seen no indictment.

"It's a Kangaroo Court employing laws of the jungle," she told Reuters by email.

Hun Sen's government has been accused of using violence against opponents, but in recent years has stalked its foes mostly in courts.

In August, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Cambodian authorities should stop harassing and forcibly dispersing family members protesting the detention of opposition political activists in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolves main opposition party

Cambodia

The remarks came after relatives of detained members of the banned CNRP staged weekly protests outside the Phnom Penh municipal court for seven Fridays in a row.

"Videos of police dragging peaceful protesters on the street and forcibly jamming them into vehicles should raise global concern about police abuse in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson, the HRW's  Asia deputy director.

"The authorities should immediately end violent tactics against peaceful protesters and respect the rights to free expression and assembly," he said.

The continued crackdown on the opposition has strained Cambodia's ties with Western countries and prompted the European Union (EU), a key export destination, to withdraw special trade privileges.

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