前柬埔寨反对派领袖继续羁押

Former Cambodian Opposition¹ Leader to Remain in Prison

A court in Cambodia on Thursday extended by six months the pre-trial detention² of Kem Sokha, the former leader of the country’s main opposition party.

Sokha has already been detained for almost a year.

His supporters had hoped Sokha would soon be released, especially following the pardoning and release of 14 opposition activists³ earlier this week.

One of Sokha’s lawyers said the court ruled in a closed-door hearing that Sokha’s continued detention was necessary for national security.

Sokha was the leader of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). He was arrested last year and charged with treason. His party was dissolved last November.

Sokha is accused of leading a plan to destroy the government in a US-backed revolution.

In last month’s elections, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won all 125 seats in the National Assembly, extending its 33-year hold on power.

Hun Sen said Wednesday of Sokha’s case, “What is there to be pardoned? This is the case of treason.”

Hun Sen, however, had asked for pardons for several other jailed opposition activists. Meach Sovannara, the former head of information and media for the CNRP, was among the 14 freed earlier this week. He had been given a 20-year sentence for making a speech at an opposition rally in 2015.

Sovannara has said he will return to politics. He remains⁴ hopeful that a multi-party democracy can be restored in Cambodia.

Political expert Meas Nee told VOA that he believes the government is unsure of what to do with Sokha. If they release him, he could rebuild his party. If they find him guilty, the United States will likely place economic sanctions on Cambodia.

The main piece of evidence against Sokha is a 2013 speech in which he said he had received U.S. support and help for his political plans.

I’m Caty Weaver⁵.

Words in This Story

dissolve – v. to officially end something

multi - many, much

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。