It’s a battle for democracy and inclusive development in Cambodia

Cambodia’s general elections are scheduled to be held in July this year.

Earlier this month, when a municipal court in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh found Opposition leader Kem Sokha guilty of treason and sentenced him to a 27-year prison sentence, the international community and global rights groups were quick to condemn the move.

The United States said it was “deeply troubled” by the conviction of the “respected leader”. “His trial, built on a fabricated conspiracy, was a miscarriage of justice,” U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy, said in a tweet. Terming the ruling “politically motivated”, Human Rights Watch, a New York-based global rights watchdog, said it was based on “bogus charges”. Amnesty International said in a statement: “The Cambodian justice system has once again shown its jaw-dropping lack of independence by convicting Kem Sokha on baseless, politically motivated charges. This verdict is an unmistakable warning to opposition groups months before national elections.”

Cambodia’s general elections are scheduled to be held in July this year. Incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen, who will seek another term in the coming election, has remained in the position for nearly 40 years, earning the distinction of being one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) currently holds all seats in parliament. With political opposition being wiped out, and little space for dissent, the regime will likely continue, according to Cambodian analysts.

In addition to democratic freedoms, inclusive development that speaks to people’s needs, will be imperative for the country’s progress, local activists note. Reeling under the lingering impact of Pol Pot’s dictatorship, and the cycles of war which officially ended in 1991, the Southeast Asian country that is home to over 17 million people is struggling to elevate its economy from a lower-income status. Cambodia’s economic growth in the past decade, of about 7% per annum, was largely driven by its export-oriented, labour-intensive manufacturing sectors, such as garments, travel goods, and footwear.

But, the ruling establishment appears to regard democracy as dispensable, be it in governance or development, community leaders observe with concern. “It is just impossible to access credible data in the official records, there is no transparency. Journalists are afraid to take on the government or the Prime Minister, because of repression,” a senior journalist, who is also part of a professional free media network, said. In a move that drew much criticism from rights defenders last month, Mr. Hun Sen ordered the closure of ‘Voice of Democracy’, a prominent local radio station that was one of the last remaining free media outlets in the country, for allegedly criticising his son in a story.

If democracy is under threat, it is not as if the government’s development agenda is speaking to people’s immediate needs, according to locals. And in this context, the spotlight on Chinese investment in Cambodia is growing. In the last decade alone China has loaned and invested billions of dollars, in infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, emerging as a key player in Foreign Direct Investments in the Southeast Asian country.

The scenic coastal town of Sihanoukville is a clear case in point. A brand-new 187km-long expressway, built with a Chinese investment of $2 billion, connects the port town with capital Phnom Penh, reducing travel time by more than half, to just about two hours. Part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the expressway was opened late last year. During a visit this February, the sleek expressway looked nearly empty. The local Phnom Penh Post reported that high-speed commuters are charged between $12 (roughly 48,563 Cambodian Riel) and $60 for a one-way trip.