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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 15 June 2022
Cambodian court convicts lawyer, dozens of others of treason

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia “I am ready and prepared
(AP) — A Cambodian- to go to the notorious Cam-
American lawyer and doz- bodian prison for my politi-
ens of members of a now- cal opinions, for my beliefs,
dissolved opposition party for my belief in democracy,
were convicted of treason for my belief in freedom,”
Tuesday in a trial that is part she said. “I am ready to
of efforts to tame opposi- pay the price of prison in
tion to the long-running rule order that I live out my con-
of Prime Minister Hun Sen. science and my belief in
Lawyer Theary Seng and freedom and justice.”
most of the other defen- Choung Chou Ngy, who
dants were charged over a represents Theary Seng
failed attempt by the lead- but not the other defen-
er of the defunct Cambo- dants, said he plans to file
dia National Rescue Party an appeal. He said the
to return from exile in 2019. defendants who received
Cambodian authorities five-year terms had their
blocked Sam Rainsy’s re- sentences suspended, but
turn and alleged that the those with sentences of
60 defendants were in- six to eight years were or-
volved in organizing his trip, dered jailed, and the judge
which Theary Seng and the ordered police to find those
others have denied. Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in the Lady Liberty stands outside Phnom who were sentenced in ab-
Cambodian courts are Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Associated Press sentia so they could face
widely believed to be un- justice.
der the influence of Hun democracy,” Phil Robert- sentences of five to eight hold her hand and body, Theary Seng was jailed at
Sen, whose authoritarian son, deputy Asia director years. and push her into a wait- Prey Sar prison on the out-
rule has kept him in power of New York-based Hu- Many of the 60 defendants ing police truck shortly after skirts of Phnom Penh, Gen.
for 37 years. The Cambodia man Rights Watch, said in a earlier fled into exile or went the verdict came. Nut Savana, a spokesper-
National Rescue Party was statement. “By creating a into hiding, and it wasn’t She was dressed as Lady son for the interior ministry’s
his party’s biggest rival be- political dynamic that relies immediately clear how Liberty, in a light green prison department, said in
fore it was disbanded by a on intimidation and perse- many appeared in court gown and a crown with an interview with the online
court ruling just ahead of cution of government crit- for the verdict Tuesday. Ac- “Freedom” written on it. Swift News service. He said
national elections in 2018 ics, Hun Sen demonstrates cording to Human Rights She carried an imitation she had a medical check
that resulted in a clean his total disregard for dem- Watch, 27 defendants who torch, which she raised and on arrival and was put in an
sweep by Hun Sen’s Cam- ocratic rights.” are in exile were tried in ab- shouted “Free the political isolation area for 21 days
bodia People’s Party. The Phnom Penh Munici- sentia. prisoners.” She has worn as a standard precaution
“The mass trials against po- pal Court found Theary Theary Seng stood outside thematic costumes to her against the spread of CO-
litical opposition members Seng and most of the oth- the court as the verdict court sessions to publicize VID-19.
are really about prevent- ers guilty of conspiracy to was announced, saying her belief that Cambodia U.S. Ambassador to Cam-
ing any electoral chal- commit treason, defense she wanted her arrest to is not a democratic nation bodia W. Patrick Murphy
lenge to Prime Minister Hun lawyer Choung Chou Ngy be public and “not in the and the trial is unfair. said on Twitter that the
Sen’s rule, but they have said. Theary Seng was sen- shadow.” Journalists saw at She told reporters she was sentencing of Theary Seng
also come to symbolize tenced to six years in jail, least three police officers ready for a “sham” guilty and the others was deeply
the death of Cambodia’s and the others received approach Theary Seng, verdict. troubling.q

Satellite images suggest Iran preparing for rocket launch

ar program. The images news agency in May said Tuesday’s preparations re-
from Maxar Technologies that Iran likely would have mains scarred from an ex-
showed a launch pad at seven homemade satellites plosion in August 2019 that
Imam Khomeini Spaceport ready for launch by the even drew the attention
in Iran’s rural Semnan prov- end of the Persian calen- of then-President Donald
ince, the site of frequent re- dar year in March 2023. Trump. He later tweeted
cent failed attempts to put Over the past decade, Iran what appeared to be a
a satellite into orbit. has sent several short-lived classified surveillance im-
One set of images showed satellites into orbit and in age of the launch failure.
a rocket on a transporter, 2013 launched a monkey Satellite images from Feb-
preparing to be lifted and into space. The program ruary suggested another
put on a launch tower. A has seen recent troubles, failed launch earlier this
later image showed the however. There have been year, though Iran did not
rocket apparently on the five failed launches in a row acknowledge it.
This satellite image from Maxar Technologies shows a rocket
erected at a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Space Center in tower. Iran did not ac- for the Simorgh program, a The successive failures
Iran on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. knowledge a forthcoming type of satellite-carrying raised suspicion of outside
Associated Press launch at the space port rocket. A fire at the Imam interference in Iran’s pro-
and its mission to the Unit- Khomeini Spaceport in gram, something Trump
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- images showed a rocket ed Nations in New York did February 2019 also killed himself hinted at by tweet-
ates (AP) — Iran appeared on a rural desert launch not immediately respond three researchers, authori- ing at the time that the U.S.
to be readying for a space pad, just as tensions remain to a request for comment. ties said at the time. “was not involved in the
launch Tuesday as satellite high over Tehran’s nucle- However, its state-run IRNA The launch pad used in catastrophic accident.” q