8-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Thol Samnang, a member of a banned opposition party in Cambodia, has been detained in Bangkok and is at risk of being deported, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Thol Samnang is currently being held at the Suan Phlu immigration detention centre in central Bangkok, as confirmed by Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand with HRW Asia.
Local media reports indicate that Thol Samnang was on his way to the Bangkok office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) when he was apprehended near Victory Monument.
Sunai Phasuk highlighted on Twitter that Thailand’s recently enacted anti-torture and forced disappearance legislation prohibits the deportation of individuals who may face harm in their destination country.
The Candlelight Party, which remains the sole significant opposition party in Cambodia, suffered a setback in late May when its attempt to overturn a ban on participating in the upcoming national elections on July 23 was unsuccessful.
The National Election Committee refused to register the party due to incomplete document submission. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Constitutional Council, effectively allowing long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen to run uncontested.
Critics and human rights groups have accused Hun Sen of exploiting the legal system to suppress opposition to his rule, particularly in the lead-up to elections.
In last year’s local elections, the Candlelight Party gained significant support, securing 22% of the popular vote. The party had planned to challenge the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in all constituencies during the national polls.
Following the dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the Candlelight Party, formerly known as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation Party, emerged as a prominent opposition force. When the CNRP was dissolved in November 2017, almost 90% of its members joined the Candlelight Party, which enjoyed substantial backing from the country’s youth population
