Two Opposition Activists Hit with Incitement, Forgery Charges
Published on 5 June 2025
An opposition activist from the Nation Power Party (NPP) and another from the Candlelight Party were arrested on 3 June in separate cases.
Doem Keang, a member of NPP in Kampong Speu province, was arrested and accused of incitement. He is currently being detained and questioned at the Phnom Penh Court of First Instance.
Douek Chan, a deputy commune chief for the Candlelight Party in the capital’s Steung Meanchey 1 commune was also arrested on 3 June. He was charged with forgery of public documents, relating to the preparation of candidate lists for previous local elections. Forgery charges have been used to detain numerous Candlelight public officials in recent years, as well as to bar entire slates of candidates during the 2022 Commune Elections.
Officials from both parties called the arrests acts of intimidation and harassment designed to impede their political activities, and called for the release both men.
