BANGKOK — Authorities in Cambodia announced on Wednesday that they have arrested a Thai national believed to be responsible for the shooting death of a former Cambodian opposition politician in a well-known tourist area of Bangkok.
The victim, Lim Kimya, was a former lawmaker associated with the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party. He was shot near a temple adjacent to Khaosan Road on Tuesday evening, shortly after arriving with his wife from Cambodia, as reported by Human Rights Watch.
According to the Cambodian National Police, the accused shooter, Ekkalak Pheanoi, fled to Cambodia immediately following the incident and was captured on Wednesday in Battambong province, which borders Thailand. They announced that he will be extradited back to Thailand upon the request of Thai law enforcement.
A representative from the Royal Thai Police was unavailable for comments at the time of the report.
Siam Boonsom, the head of Bangkok police, spoke to the media, indicating that the preliminary investigation suggested the gunman may have been hired to execute the shooting. He refrained from sharing further specifics due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Siam noted that the suspect had past offenses connected to financial crimes, but he did not acknowledge media speculation that the gunman might have been a former marine in the Thai military.
Footage from security cameras circulated in Thai media depicted the suspect arriving on a motorbike, firing three shots at Lim Kimya, and then departing the scene after the victim fell to the ground without obscuring his face.
In response to the tragic incident, the Cambodia National Rescue Party expressed their profound shock and condemnation of the “brutal and inhumane assassination,” prompting a call for a comprehensive investigation by Thai authorities to ensure justice is served.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party was anticipated to pose a serious challenge to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party led by ex-Prime Minister Hun Sen in the 2018 elections. However, a sweeping crackdown on opposition led to the dissolution of the party by the high court, allowing the ruling party to secure every seat in the National Assembly without resistance.
Recent social media posts by Lim Kimya had been critical of the government’s use of public funds, highlighting expenditures on events that failed to benefit the Cambodian populace.
Under Hun Sen’s nearly four-decade rule, Cambodia faced extensive criticism for human rights violations, particularly regarding the suppression of free speech and political assembly. Although Hun Sen stepped down in August 2023 and was succeeded by his son, Hun Manet, many observers note that there has been little indication of political reform or liberalization.
Phil Robertson, a prominent human rights advocate, commented that the incident bears the characteristics of a politically motivated assassination, indicating a troubling increase in transnational repression aimed at stifling dissent against the ruling regime in Thailand.
The Cambodian government has been regularly accused of manipulating the judicial system to target critics and political rivals. While officials assert they promote law under an electoral democracy framework, opposition parties that threaten the ruling party’s power have been dissolved or faced harassment and imprisonment of their leaders.
Lim Kimya’s killing coincided with a call from Hun Sen, who currently leads Cambodia’s Senate, urging the government to enact legislation that would categorize certain dissenting actions as terrorism.
During a commemoration event for the 46th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s ouster, Hun Sen, alongside his son, suggested creating laws to designate those aiming to overturn the new administration as “terrorists.”
