Murder of a former Cambodian MP in Bangkok: the Thai suspect confesses. The motives are still unclear in this assassination which shocks the opposition in exile. The power of Hun Sen pointed out. The investigation continues to shed light on this crime…
The brutal murder of a former Cambodian opposition MP in the heart of Bangkok has sparked excitement and reignited political tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Lim Kimya, who had sought refuge in Thailand after the dissolution of his party in Cambodia, was shot dead in cold blood last Tuesday as he arrived in the Thai capital with his French wife.
The suspect, a former soldier, confesses
Dramatic drama on Saturday when the main suspect, a Thai national, admitted his crime to investigators and the press. Ekkalak Paenoi, a former soldier according to Cambodian police sources, bluntly declared: “I admit that I did wrong. If I dared to do it, I dare to admit it”.
Arrested on Wednesday in Cambodia, he was quickly extradited to Thailand to be heard there. Thai authorities are now seeking to shed light on the motives behind this assassination. “We cannot yet determine the motives, please give us time”said a senior Bangkok police official.
Cambodian opposition accuses former Prime Minister Hun Sen
On the side of the Cambodian opposition in exile, shock and anger dominate. The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), dissolved in 2017, strongly condemned this “brutal act which seriously threatens political freedom”. Several of its members did not hesitate to point the finger at Hun Sen, the strong man who ruled Cambodia for nearly 40 years with an iron fist before passing power to his son in 2023.
This is a political assassination. Lim Kimya was my colleague, he was killed by Hun Sen’s henchmen.
Sam Rainsy, Cambodian opposition figure in exile in France
The Cambodian government has strongly rejected these accusations, denying any involvement in this crime. But the timing is a challenge: a few days before the murder, Hun Sen had called for tougher legislation against those who would try to overthrow the new government led by his son Hun Manet. Rhetoric considered threatening by opponents.
Thailand, an increasingly risky land of exile for Cambodian opponents
This is not the first time that Thailand, one of the main host countries for Cambodian political exiles, has been the scene of such acts. Several activists have already been arrested on its soil before being deported to Cambodia in recent years. France, of which the victim was also a national, strongly condemned this assassination.
Faced with increasing threats, more and more opponents are now considering leaving Thailand to find refuge elsewhere. But in a tense regional context, between geopolitical rivalries and tougher security, their options are increasingly limited. It is time for vigilance for all those who have fled the repression of the Phnom Penh regime.
An investigation under close surveillance
If the confessions of the alleged shooter constitute an important step forward, many gray areas remain. Beyond the perpetrator, it is the instigator(s) of this murder who remain to be identified. Investigators are particularly interested in a Cambodian accomplice who is the subject of an arrest warrant.
In such a sensitive context, the investigation promises to be complex and under close surveillance. Thailand, Cambodia’s key economic partner, is walking on eggshells. While cooperating with Phnom Penh, Bangkok is keen to avoid a new diplomatic crisis. And the specter of involvement, even indirect, by senior Cambodian officials risks further complicating the task of Thai sleuths.
More than just a news item, the assassination of Lim Kimya is the symptom of a deep political crisis in Cambodia, the repercussions of which are exported well beyond the borders. It also illustrates the growing precariousness of opponents in exile in a South-East Asia plagued by tensions. A hot issue to follow very closely in the weeks to come.
