Wed Jan 08 09:03:30 UTC 2025: ## Bangkok Police: Hitman Hired to Kill Cambodian Opposition Figure in Thailand
**Bangkok, Thailand** – Thai police have issued an arrest warrant for a gunman suspected of assassinating Lim Kimya, a 74-year-old Cambodian opposition politician, in a shooting in downtown Bangkok on Tuesday. Bangkok Police Chief Siam Boonsom announced Wednesday that the investigation suggests the gunman was a hired assassin, and that another individual is also wanted for possibly identifying Kimya to the killer. While details remain scarce pending the ongoing investigation, police are actively pursuing both suspects.
Kimya, a former member of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), had fled Cambodia in recent years to escape alleged political repression under the rule of former Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet. The CNRP was dissolved in 2018, with the ruling party alleging a treason plot – accusations the CNRP has vehemently denied.
The assassination comes amidst a crackdown on dissent in Cambodia. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen recently declared that opponents of his son’s regime should be labeled “terrorists.” Longtime rival Sam Rainsy has directly accused Hun Sen of orchestrating Kimya’s murder, a claim the Cambodian government denies. Spokesman Pen Bona stated that the killing occurred in Thailand and is therefore a matter for Thai authorities to handle.
Human Rights Watch has called for a swift and thorough investigation into the killing. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and risks faced by Cambodian opposition figures seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The arrest of the alleged gunman and any subsequent investigation will be closely watched for implications regarding both Thai-Cambodian relations and the broader political climate in Cambodia.
First Piper 