Like Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia is still reeling from the devastating effects of unexploded ordnance. Both Russia and Ukraine have already used this type of weaponry. US President Joe Biden announced supplies for Ukraine. Human Rights Watch reports that China and Russia “are both actively researching and developing new types of cluster munitions.”
Cambodia’s strongman used to post a lot in his Facebook account, including explicit threats to the opposition. For this reason, the platform decided to suspend him. Now he threatens to ban the social media platform from the country. Ahead of next month’s election, Hun Sen has turned to Telegram and TikTok where monitoring is less stringent.
A month before the elections, the National Assembly passes a law that punishes boycotting an election that is meaningless after the Candlelight Party’s disqualification. Now anyone who does not vote will not be able to run for office for at least four consecutive elections. According to human rights groups, this is but another campaign of intimidation by Hun Sen, the country’s strongman.