The Cambodian opposition states that it was "cut off" before the election

<img src = "http://www.malaysiandigest.com/images/stories /new3/syareen/22/cambodian_Reuters.jpg "alt =" Picture: Reuters "width =" 260 "height =" 185 "style =" margin: 0; [19659005] Pic: Reuters PHNOM PENH : In June of last year, Khoeun Virath was elected city councilor in the capital of Cambodia, but months later his political party was banned and most of his leaders fled into exile. Tuk-tuk driver to make ends meet

The story of Virath is only one example of how a once-prosperous opposition was silenced by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his allies

"We have never banned criticism but we forbid insults and inducements because in a situation of ectoral, people need physical and mental security, "said the government. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said:

Hun Sen, who ruled this country from Southeast Asia. For more than 30 years, there has been virtually no opposition since November, when the opposition National Party of Cambodia (CNRP) was dissolved by the Supreme Court. the request of his government. The CNRP was narrowly defeated in the 2013 general election.

In the midst of the international community's condemnation, CNRP leader Kem Sokha was imprisoned last year for treason and nearly 5 000 posts of his party were given to the members of the Cambodian people. "In the country, CNRP members are completely cut off from communicating with each other," Khoeun Virath, 30, told a coffee shop in Phnom Penh, in what was once his constituency. . "There is no more management structure."

Many Cambodians are afraid to talk about the election, fearing that their opinions will cause them trouble. Hun Sen accused the United States of supporting the CNRP and preparing a "color revolution" to overthrow his government.

"People are afraid"

Hoping to expose the election as defective, opponents of Hun Sen launched a campaign urging Cambodians not to vote.

"People here are scared, people do not want to talk," said Khoeun Virath, who said that he had been followed repeatedly by plainclothes policemen

. The boycott of the polls is illegal and has invited 50,000 observers, including some from China, Myanmar and Singapore, to monitor the elections.

Soeung Sen Karuna, 41, investigator of the Adhoc rights group, one of the oldest rights groups in Cambodia. His organization had been accused of plotting a revolution and was finding it increasingly difficult to work.

"NGOs working in other sectors are afraid to cooperate with us," he told Reuters at the Adhoc office in Phnom Penh. m Adhoc embers were held without trial for 14 months before being released on bail last year. They were accused of bribing a witness in a case against opposition leader Kem Sokha, who is now imprisoned. Kem Sokha's supporters say the charges are politically motivated.

Another person who knows how long the authorities will silence critics is

Ma Chetra, 28, who runs the Social Breaking News Facebook page, says that he's also been targeted by the government on the page, which hosts news on land rights demonstrations, forced evictions and other issues that the government considers sensitive.

Ma Chetra has reportedly fled Cambodia several times since 2017 with a group of activists at Phnom Penh International Airport. The activists were going to Indonesia for a workshop on democracy, he said, but the police spread the image with the caption: "A group of young people who went to train to carry out a colorful revolution. "

lists the names and some of the mobile phone numbers of those who travel.

Part of the group has since fled to the United States and France. Others are in Cambodia, but are low profile.

Less than a week away from the election, Phnom Penh is festooned with posters urging Cambodians to vote for Hun Sen, but there is none for small parties d & # 39; opposition. Koeeun Virath said that the best hope for the opponents of Hun Sen is the pressure of the exiled leaders and the international community. "With diplomatic pressure from abroad, there can be a lot of momentum," he said.

– Reuters