A Culture of Fear

Sar Mory, research and advocacy program manager at the Cambodian Youth Network, argued that the swift and brutal responses exhibited by the authorities is a ploy to deter further people from criticizing their decisions.

“The government seems unwilling to give a positive response or address the demands of youth activists or environmental groups over the filling of natural lakes and the exploitation of natural resources,” said Mory, noting that Boeung Tamok, Boeung Tompoun and Koh Konh Kraos Island all face environmental damage by both the government and private investors.

“The campaigns of youth groups has become viral on social media and gained more support from the general public,” he noted. “This could be one of the reason that the government has taken non-proportionate and unreasonable actions to crackdown on the environmental youth groups.”

He went on to explain that creating a culture of fear will allow Prime Minister Hun Sen to avoid large-scale protests like those currently being seen in neighboring Thailand and Hong Kong.

“Lastly, the government wants to maintain its position and prove to the international community that Cambodia won’t exchange sovereignty for aid or trade, so this crackdown is to make the previous crackdowns on opposition party members and human rights defenders look legitimate—the Cambodian government wants to show that the international community no longer influences their stance on human rights and democracy,” he said.

Read full article: cambodianess.com