Former opposition leader Kem Sokha denied being involved in a demonstration during a so-called Black Monday campaign organized by human rights activists, in his Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday, further asserting that his treason charges had nothing to do with the demonstration.
Sokha’s lawyer Meng Sopheary told reporters after the trial that questions were centered around questions over a color revolution connected to the demonstration where people were seen raising their fists and carrying lotus flowers.
“My client said it [demonstration] is not related to him,” Sopheary said. “We noticed that the evidence is insufficient to show that our client had committed an offense. The evidence of the demonstration showing people carrying lotus flowers wasn’t related to him,” Sopheary said.
She added that Sokha informed the court that he did not order those demonstrations and asked that the people, who organized it, to respond instead.
The Black Monday campaign was launched in 2016 to demand the government to release four employees of local rights group Adhoc and an election official, who were arrested for allegedly bribing a young woman in connection with an alleged sex scandal involving Sokha.
Sokha, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison on treason charges in March 2023, was arrested in 2017 for allegedly conspiring with the U.S to hold a color revolution to overthrow the government. Two months after that, the Supreme Court dissolved his party, Cambodia National Rescue Party.
In addition to the prison sentence, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court banned him from political activities for life and barred him from communicating with people other than family members without the court’s permission.
The court ruling was strongly criticized by human rights groups all over and the U.S government. “His trial, built on a fabricated conspiracy, was a miscarriage of justice,” U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy posted on X (previously Twitter) in March last year.
Government lawyer Ky Tech declined to comment. “I can’t do interviews with the media because of my work as a lawyer. Some issues cannot be spoken about in public.”
NGO rights group Licadho operation director Am Sam Ath, who attended the hearing, said civil society groups work on human rights and democracy issues, but cases involving politicians will end when there is political settlement.
“Since the beginning, there have been accusations against politicians as well as political parties. When there is a political mediation, we have seen that those cases can be resolved,” he said.
Court of Appeal spokesperson Khun Leangmeng declined to comment.
The trial will continue on April 25.
