Campaign of intimidation : upsurge of political prisoners in Cambodia

This report focuses on the sudden increase of political prisoners in Cambodia starting July 2015 as it relates to the 2018 national election. The wave of political prisoners is seen as part of the deterioration of broader human rights conditions in Cambodia with regards to Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Association, and the right to fair trial and due process. By examining the Cambodian regime’s historical behaviors with regards to human rights and its threat of losing power in the upcoming 2018 election, this report argues that the uptick of political prisoners is a means for the regime to specifically determine the outcome of the upcoming election. Content analysis of secondary academic, political and advocacy-based sources are used as evidence for claims to support this argument. In addition, this report offers policy recommendations addressed to the United Nations toward achieving reforms and the release of Cambodia’s political prisoners.