Prominent Cambodian government critic gunned down

Phnom Penh: Thousands of people gathered for the funeral of prominent government critic and activist Kem Ley in Cambodia’s capital on Monday, a day after he was shot dead in broad daylight inside a convenience store in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh: A critic of the Cambodian government was shot dead in the capital on Sunday at a time of rising political tension between Prime Minister Hun Sen and an opposition hoping to challenge his grip on power in elections as soon as next year.

The killing of high profile activist and political commentator Kem Ley has shocked Cambodians, angered the opposition, and raised the political stakes in a country with a tragic history of assassinations and an intolerance of dissenting voices.

Kem Ley was as much an outspoken critic of Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) as he was of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP).He founded the Grass Roots Democracy Party nearly a year ago.

The killing of Kem Ley took place a few days after an independent investigative report was published exposing the questionable business transactions of Hun Sen’s family.

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a statement alongside a photograph of Kem Ley smiling alongside Ambassador William Heidt. National police spokesman Gen. Kirth Chantharith said a dispute over money led to the shooting death of Kem Lay Sunday morning and his attacker arrested shortly after.

Kem Ley was critical of both the government and opposition parties, advocating for a new era of clean politics in Cambodia, which is expected to hold a general election in 2018. “We are working on this case”, the spokesperson continued.

“[We] have to strictly control all kind of weapons and explosive ordnance… but we also need to find a way to stop the trafficking of weapons through our country as well”, he told the assembled military police officers.

But the bulk of his criticism was aimed at Hun Sen’s administration, having most recently commented on a report by anti-corruption pressure group Global Witness.

The apprehended suspect, who was later identified as “Choub Samlab” (which loosely translates as “meet to kill”) had reportedly used a Glock handgun to shoot the 48-year-old at the station’s café.

The Overseas Press Club of Cambodia (OPCC) said Kem Ley was a trusted and often quoted source for journalists.

Police survey the crime scene where Kem Ley was shot dead while family members pray next to his dead body, July 10, 2016.

Video of the police questioning the suspect, posted on the pro-government Fresh News website, shows the man claiming that Kem Ley borrowed $3,000 from him to help poor people, but that he failed to return it. He was the founder of the Grassroots Democracy Organization.

Hun Sen condemned the attack on Monday and urged people to be calm during the investigation.

Members of the opposition and activists have been jailed on charges they say were trumped up by the government as part of a crackdown to mute critics ahead of the vote.