Cambodia’s main opposition Candlelight Party condemned the government in a statement after two of its senior members were arrested this week amid an ongoing crackdown against political opposition members ahead of Feb. 25 Senate elections.
Authorities in Phnom Penh arrested Hak Kosal, executive committee secretary for the city’s Chroy Changvar district, and Ma Chenda, the party executive director in Daun Penh district.
In a statement released Thursday, the Candlelight party said both men were arrested off the street without the police showing them a warrant.
"This is yet another intimidation image aimed at discouraging people from participating in political activities with the Candlelight Party and provoking an awful environment ahead of the Senate election," the statement said.
"The [Candlelight] party urges authorities to free Hak Kosal and Ma Chenda … and halt all forms of persecution against the party's leaders and activists," it said.
RFA was not able to reach the families of Hak Kosal and Ma Chenda for comment.
According to the warrant, which RFA obtained from the court, the two men were accused of fraud.
Opposition party activists are being arrested without clear evidence and many arrests were made ahead of elections, said Soeung Sen Karuna, spokesperson for the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association’s spokesperson.
He urged the government to stop the persecutions against opposition party activists and restore democracy.
"We don't want to see the issues drag on from one government to the next one or from one election to another,” he said. “I've seen the political space reopen. I want politicians to have full freedom in a democratic country."
Translated Samean Yun. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.