But first... OSJI James A. Goldston's Cambodia's Court at a Crossroads.

Now, back to:

Criminalizing Democracy in Cambodia

The Cambodian government continues to criminalize democracy and human rights work in Cambodia with its most recent absurd and paranoid lawsuit against democracy leader Sam Rainsy (see AP's Cambodia's Opposition Leader Faces New Lawsuit, BBC's Cambodia to again sue opposition leader Sam Rainsy, 26 Feb. 2010).

Why is this government so insecure and paranoid that it should sacrifice its own dignity, its own people, its own national soul?  Why the draconian measures? Is it not a simple question of getting the maps out?  Why the total disregard for thousands of villagers living along the border and their displacement?

The Khmer Rouge era may have ended in January 1979, but the Khmer Rouge mentality of violence, of lies, of fear, of paranoia continues to this day...

Here's what Newsweek Magazine, Human Rights Watch and Reporters San Frontieres have to say about press freedom and the fate of democracy and human rights in Cambodia...

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Theary C. SENG