On 7 January 2025, Lim Kimya, a former Member of Parliament for the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) was shot dead in Bangkok, Thailand. His colleagues, members of the Cambodian opposition, say they have suffered dozens of arrests, imprisonments, violent attacks, and assassinations for standing up against the former Prime Minister Hun Sen.

On paper, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy supported by a parliamentary form of government elected through a multiparty system. In reality, political power has been monopolised by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) under its leader, Hun Sen. He served as the prime minister for 38 years, and currently serves as the head of the Cambodian Senate. In 2023, he passed the baton to his son, Hun Manet. For decades, Cambodia has been under the grip of this regime through electoral manipulation, media censorship, restrictions on civil society, and violent suppression of political dissent, even beyond borders. 

Electoral Manipulation

 The CPP (formerly Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party) has been at the forefront of Cambodian politics since 1979, after the turbulent Cambodian-Vietnamese war, and an internal uprising against the Khmer-Rouge. Over the years, CPP has undermined the integrity of elections through various means including elimination of the opposition, amendments to election laws, and widespread voter manipulation.

In 2017, the CPP-led government dissolved the main opposition party, CNRP, which had gained popular support. This was done through a Law on Political Parties banning over 100 members and revoking their parliamentary impunity. Meanwhile CPP won all 125 National Assembly seats in 2018. With increased control over judicial and executive powers, the same government facilitated the disqualification of the Candlelight Party from the 2023 elections despite appeals. Furthermore, an amendment of the electoral law stated that all Cambodian citizens who didn’t vote in the 2023 elections and ones who had dual citizenship would be prohibited from running as candidates in future elections. As a result, the CPP emerged victorious, again, with 120 of the total 125 seats.

 Media Censorship

 Independent media in Cambodia faces severe restrictions and continues to be intimidated by the government. The public mainly has access to large media houses such as the National Television of Cambodia, National Radio of Cambodia, and Kaoh Santepheap, which are state-owned with pro-government coverage. The Cambodia Daily, a non-partisan outlet, was forced to close its print edition in 2017 over a tax bill dispute with the government. Its website was later blocked, and the chief correspondent Sarada Taing was threatened for his coverage of Cambodian politics. Similarly, The Phnom Penh Post announced its closure in March 2024, citing “declining advertising revenue.” Other outlets like Kemnotra, Voice of Democracy, and Radio Free Asia were confronted with similar fates.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, over 80 per cent of journalists experience unfair surveillance, restrictions, and attacks. Recently, journalist Mech Dara was arrested for reporting on government officials' involvement in human trafficking and cybercrimes. He was then released after international outrage. In 2023, the government also threatened to block Facebook and proposed a sub-decree inspired by China's system (National Internet Gateway) to curb internet freedom and user privacy. If passed, this would further tighten the government's grip on the media, user privacy, and freedom of expression.

Restrictions on Civil Society, Peaceful Assembly, and Freedom of Expression

The CPP, in power for four decades, has continually restricted democratic attempts by civil societies. The 2025 World Report by Human Rights Watch highlighted the legal actions and imprisonment that civic groups and their leaders bear. In May 2023, Chhim Sithar (Labour Rights’ Supported Union) was found guilty of “incitement to disturb social security” and imprisoned for two years; meanwhile eight other union leaders faced up to a year and a half of prison time. Amnesty International, ACTU, and Human Rights Watch argued that it is “a state obligation to protect rights of workers.”

Environmental groups including Wildlife Alliance and Mother Nature have also been systematically weakened since over a decade. Most arrests come under accusations of political dissent, a direct result of their advocacy for protection of natural resources and conservation of forests. Yorm Bhopa, a woman land right activist, was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for three years in 2012. Her sentence was later dismissed when authorities failed to produce compelling evidence. In another case, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted 10 activists from Mother Nature, all facing six-eight years in prison on the basis of “defamation, insult, and incitement to commit a felony.” 

Suppression of Political Dissent

When legal, judicial, and economic oppression haven’t been enough, the CPP-led government has often resorted to violent tactics to suppress political dissent. In 2017, leader of CNRP, Kem Sokha, was arrested and charged with treason and espionage for organising protests against the ruling party. He was later convicted and sentenced to 27 years of house arrest. In 2023, two activists, Yim Sinorn and Hun Kosa, were charged with incitement for suggesting Hun Sen was the real ‘King of Cambodia’, but were acquitted after apologising and deleting their posts. In July 2024, Teav Vannol was fined US$ 1.5 billion for "defaming" the government in foreign media.

Another prominent opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has lived in exile since 2015 and accused the government of the political assassinations of his colleagues, including Chea Vichea (trade union leader) in 2004, Chut Wutty (environmental activist) in 2012, and Kem Lyn (political activist and commentator) in 2016, among many other assaults. These cases illustrate the government's intolerance for dissenting voices and its efforts to silence critics, even through extrajudicial killings as seen in Lim Kimya’s case.

Conclusion

The assassination of Lim Kimya is a sobering testament to the extreme lengths Cambodia’s ruling party will go to silence dissent, even beyond its borders. Despite the facade of constitutional democracy, the Cambodian political landscape is tightly controlled by the Cambodian People’s Party, reinforced through a mix of electoral manipulation, media suppression, and harsh crackdowns on civil society. This deeply entrenched system of control has left little room for genuine political competition or free expression. As long as these authoritarian regimes in the region remain unchallenged, their legitimacy will strengthen. So the international community must remain vigilant, supporting those who risk their lives to uphold the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights.

Pragati Madhogarhia is a Research Intern with IPCS’ South East Asia Research Programme (SEARP).