CAMBODIA Kingdom of Cambodia Head of state: King Norodom Sihamoni Head of government: Hun Sen Crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly intensified ahead of elections in 2017/2018. The authorities’ misuse of the justice system increased; the security forces continued to harass and punish civil society and silence critics. Human rights defenders were arrested and held in pre-trial detention; several were tried and sentenced, including for previous alleged offences, and others were given suspended sentences or had charges pending against them. Political opposition was targeted, with activists serving long sentences handed down in previous years and new legal action taken against opposition party leaders and others. A prominent political commentator was shot dead and impunity continued for past unlawful killings. BACKGROUND Tensions between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the main opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) remained high. The prospect of commune and national elections in 2017 and 2018 respectively created an unstable political environment threatening human rights. From May, CNRP MPs intermittently boycotted the National Assembly in protest at legal action taken against CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha for failing to appear as a witness in a court case. CNRP leader Sam Rainsy remained in self-imposed exile in France; in October the government formally announced that he was banned from returning to Cambodia. He was targeted with a series of criminal charges against him during the year. In September, 39 states issued a statement at the 33rd UN Human Rights Council meeting expressing concern about the political situation in Cambodia and calling 104 for a “safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and civil society”. FREEDOMS OF EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION Legal action against the political opposition escalated in an apparent attempt to hamper activities ahead of commune elections in 2017. At least 16 activists and officials from the opposition remained in prison after unfair trials. They included 14 CNRP members who were convicted of leading and/or participating in an “insurrection” related to a demonstration in July 2014. At least two opposition party members were held in pretrial detention and at least 13 had charges pending against them. In December, Sam Rainsy and two assistants were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on charges of being “accomplices” in a 2015 forgery case against opposition party senator Hong Sok Hour, who was convicted in November 2016 on charges of fraud and incitement and given a sevenyear prison sentence. Rainsy and the two assistants are in exile in France. In September, Kem Sokha was sentenced in his absence to five months’ imprisonment for refusing to appear as a witness in the prosecution of two CNRP MPs who were charged with “procurement of prostitution”. He was pardoned by the King in December at the Prime Minister’s request. In October, CNRP MP Um Sam An was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for incitement related to the CNRP campaign alleging encroachment by Viet Nam into Cambodian territory. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Human rights defenders were threatened and arrested for peacefully carrying out their work. Intimidation, threats and heavy surveillance caused several to leave the country in fear for their safety. In May, a landmark case was brought against Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda and Lem Mony, staff members from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) who were arrested on Amnesty International Report 2016/17