2023 Cambodian general election

Former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Khem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years in jail for allegedly conspiring with foreign powers to topple the government. He was detained at his home in Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork neighborhood and is being held at Trapeang Phlong jail awaiting trial. Due to Covid-19 concerns, his initial trial was postponed. On March 3 2023, the municipal court sentenced him to 27 years in prison under Criminal Code sections 439 and 443, and excluded him from politics and elections under Article 450. Sokha was not immediately imprisoned, but was instead restricted to his house under court monitoring. [16][17] The court verdict was condemned by human rights groups, the US embassy and UN Human Rights Commissioner. [18]

Khem Sokha greets his supporters as he leaves the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 19 January 2022

Following these events, 15 party members including three senior members of the Cambodian Youth Party and members of the standing committee Neou Bora, Huon Thearith and Chhom Chanthorn resigned. Party Leader Pich Sros was quoted saying, "The resignations of senior officials are not thing to worry about, and the party plans to register its participation and list of candidates with the NEC [For the 2023 Election].[19]

Kong Korm, a senior advisor to Cambodia's Candlelight Party, resigned after authorities announced plans to pursue a lawsuit against him for comments he made in January condemning the seizure of his property. He apologized to Hun Sen and the CPP for forcing the party to file a lawsuit and said his association with the Candlelight Party had been a mistake. In his apology letter Kong Korm said, "I accepted my mistakes and apologized to the CPP president who deemed my latest political activities harmful to CPP leaders’ dignity and disturbed society harmony.” [20]

During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Hun Sen and the government kept a neutral stance, though establishing more ties with Ukraine, where Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and sent "Deminers" to train Ukrainian Soldiers,[21] and where Ukraine also showed plans of opening an Embassy in Phnom Penh.[22] Both sides including Russia and Ukraine had praised the Cambodian Government of maintaining it's neutrality on the conflict.[23][24]

A Royal Decree, signed by King Norodom Sihamoni, removed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon from his position on 8 October 2022, with immediate effect. The decision was made at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The government then designated Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmonirath as acting minister of agriculture in addition to his current ministry and duties.[25] In which later wards the National Assembly approved Dith Tina as the new Minister of Agriculture.[26]

On 24 August 2022, The Governor of Takhmao City was sacked from his post and reassigned to work in the Kandal Provincial Administration due to his "inactiveness" in dealing with clean water for residents.[27]

On the 21 November 2022, Khoy Rida was swooned into office as the provincial governor of Pursat by Interior Minister Sar Kheng, due to the last governor Cheav Tay having been transferred due to his deteriorating health.[28]

Khem Veasna, president of the League for Democracy Party, issued an ultimatum to the huge gathering assembled at a farm house south of Kulen Mountain, who flocked to the home after hearing a "doomsday warning" from a local politician and believed the region to be a "safehaven". People have assembled at the location in response to a forecast made by a local politician that they need to do so in order to "survive a devastating flood in the country and world" (LDP). Authorities gave the ultimatum after observing the crowd grow from 15,000 to 20,000 people.[29]

Teng Channat, the head of the provincial police in Siem Reap, warned that if Khem Veasna doesn't help dissolve the group by 30 August as he promised, the government will file a lawsuit.[30]

District Governor of Banteay Srei District in Siem Reap Province, Khim Finan, reported that since Saturday, officials had insisted that the gathering disband. Have speaking with the press, he added, “We are waiting to see whether the groups will disband since I’ve noticed that more people are gathering in and around his farm and also along the road to Kulen Mountain rather than leaving, which is really upsetting to witness”.[30]

Siem Reap Provincial Governor Tea Seiha visited Khem Veasna’s farm and asked him to disband the crowd.[30]

Hun Manet along with other officials also had went down to the farm home where the event was taking place and requested Khme Veasna to disband the gatherings.

The property, which is roughly an hour's drive from Siem Reap, is being evacuated by army trucks and ambulances under orders from Prime Minister Hun Sen. According to Mr. Hun Sen, the authorities should make it simple for the people to leave the gathering and return home if they so choose.Hun Sen claimed that Khem Veasa, the League for Democracy Party's president who recently converted to religion and dubbed himself a Brahma, or celestial king, was pressuring him to use violence to disperse the rally and arrest him.“However, I advised the authorities not to fall into his trap; not to do anything. I will not use violence against him.”, Hun Sen had also added, “Veasna cursed me harshly on Facebook, but I am not going to respond with anger. I’ll find a peaceful solution for the sake of all people in the Kingdom, he is free to make any claim he wishes, his political career will be over once his supporters discover that he has been lying,” the Prime Minister added.[31]