Exiled CNRP leaders will attempt another return to attend court trials

Cambodijanews, Dec.1, 2020:Exiled CNRP leaders will attempt another return to attend court trials

Former senior opposition members said they will return to Cambodia on January 4, 2021, to attend trial hearings for alleged crimes involving them, the second attempt to enter the country after a failed effort in November 2019.

.

Former Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders issued a statement on Tuesday announcing their return on January 4. The short statement said that all party members who had been summoned by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court would return, led by former party deputy president Mu Sochua.

On Tuesday, Sochua confirmed the plan to return and said exiled party members wanted to face trial and defend themselves in court.

“Yes, I can confirm that it is a real statement,” she said via email. “Those with travel documents and with a court summon will return. We must return and be given the chance and the right to return for a fair trial.”

Senior members of the CNRP are facing multiple charges against them, related to another, but unsuccessful, attempt to return to Cambodia in 2019. Then, the government had prevented neighboring countries from allowing them to board a flight to Cambodia and revoked at least 12 passports belonging to these leaders.

The nine senior leaders face “attack” charges at a December 15 hearing and 13 of them face “incitement” and “plotting” charges at a separate trial that will be held on January 14 and March 4 next year.

 

In full: https://cambojanews.com/exiled-cnrp-leaders-will-attempt-another-return-to-attend-court-trials/

.