Cambodia's Descent

Cambodia is set to hold general elections in July 2018, which were predicted to be particularly significant for the country's progress toward genuine democracy. Recent elections, including the 2013 general elections and recent local elections, saw unprecedented gains for the Cambodia National Rescue Party [CNRP], a consolidated opposition movement. Many observers believe that in 2018, the CNRP would win an unprecedented parliamentary majority. Unfortunately, Cambodia's authoritarian leader had other plans. Hun Sen, the sitting prime minister, has been in power for more than 30 years, and has no intentions of relinquishing power. In face of strengthening support for the opposition, it seems Hun Sen has decided that he can no longer dominate the polls, even in a rigged election system. He will retain power through force. Over the last years, his brutal consolidation of powers played out on numerous fronts. Hun Sen has chilled support for the opposition by threatening to deploy the military if elections do not go his way, and has used his control of the government to dismantle threats to his grip on power. Two years ago, two CNRP lawmakers were savagely dragged from their cars and beaten by Hun Sen's bodyguards. While the perpetrators served token sentences, they were promoted to colonel barely 2 weeks after being released. Only last month, Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP, again citing the party's involvement in an alleged U. S.-backed plot. The chief judge, who is an ally of Hun Sen, relied on legal authorities that were created by the regime's controlled Parliament this year to give the ruling party sweeping powers over competing parties.