The Cambodian government has filed a fresh lawsuit against the country's fugitive opposition leader, Sam Rainsy (pictured), over claims he forged and published a false map of the border with neighbouring Vietnam. (AFP/File/Sreng Meng Srun)
via CAAI News Media
Fri Feb 26
PHNOM PENH (AFP) – The Cambodian government Friday filed a fresh lawsuit against the country's fugitive opposition leader over claims he forged and published a false map of the border with neighbouring Vietnam.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who lives in self-imposed exile in France, was sentenced in absentia last month to two years in prison over a related conviction for uprooting border posts and inciting racial discrimination.
The new lawsuit was filed with Phnom Penh Municipal Court, government lawyer Ky Tech told AFP.
"The lawsuit involves forging public documents and publicising disinformation related to the forgery of a map in order to manipulate the public over the border issue with Vietnam," Ky Tech said.
In his January conviction, Sam Rainsy and two villagers were found guilty of intentionally damaging temporary border posts last October.
In the new case he is accused of posting a "fake map" of the border on his party's website, which the government says depicts incorrect border markings with Vietnam.
No formal map has yet been agreed between the two countries.
Sam Rainsy could face up to 15 years in prison for forging public documents and up to three years in jail for disseminating false information if convicted, the lawyer said.
Neither he nor his party spokesman could be reached for comment.
Cambodia and Vietnam officially began demarcating their contentious border in September 2006 after decades of territorial disputes.
Anti-Vietnamese sentiment in Cambodia in rife, fuelled by resentment at Vietnam's expansion over the centuries and the feeling that Cambodia is losing some of its territory.
But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen maintains close relations with the Vietnamese regime and Sam Rainsy, whose party shares his name, has repeatedly accused the government of ceding land to Vietnam.
Vietnam and Cambodia share a 1,270-kilometre (790-mile) border, which has remained vague since French colonial times.
French-educated former finance minister Sam Rainsy is the main rival to Hun Sen. He has promised to promote liberal democracy and human rights, raise wages and fight corruption if elected.
Hun Sen this week accused Sam Rainsy of treachery for trying to stir up problems at the Vietnamese border while Cambodia is already embroiled in a bitter border dispute with Thailand.
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