Information Ministry official calls for CNRP passports to be revoked

Khmer Circle: And why not? You have routinely and systematically killed, savagely beaten, imprisoned and silenced your political opponents since day one, and all this in the name of putting a few "tweaks" to your version of "democracy"?...

Niem Chheng | Publication date 25 December 2017 | 20:13 ICT

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Information Ministry official Chea Chanboribo today asked for the passports of 118 CNRP members to be revoked for continuing political activities overseas. Photo supplied

A high-ranking Ministry of Information official today suggested some former CNRP members should have their passports revoked for protesting the party’s dissolution abroad despite being banned from political activity for five years.

Last month’s Supreme Court ruling to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party also targeted 118 of the party’s senior officials over an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government. Many of those officials have fled the country out of fear of arrest, with some actively campaigning for sanctions to be imposed on the government.

Chea Chanboribo, secretary of state at the Information Ministry, took to Facebook this morning to complain about the CNRP members working to “incite” foreign governments, saying it violates the Supreme Court's order to stay out of domestic politics.

“I would like the relevant authority not to ignore them, and I appeal to passport authorities to revoke Cambodian passports from them, including civil society officials like Pa Nguon Teang,” he posted, referring to the executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media who was named as a purported collaborator of the CNRP's in a Supreme Court hearing.

Chanboribo could not be reached today and did not respond to requests for comment.

Chea Chiv, former CNRP head for Battambang and one of the 118 banned officials, said Chanboribo’s suggestion, coupled with the heightened surveillance of opposition officials, was excessive.

“I think this is not correct because I am one of the 118 and my activities are allowed by law,” he said.