Court Wraps Up Hearing in Case Against Beehive Radio Owner

PHNOM PENH - Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday finished a week of hearings in the secessionist trial of Beehive Radio operator Mam Sonando and is expected to issue a verdict Oct. 1.

Nine others were put on trial alongside Mam Sonando this week, with another four tried in absentia, for allegedly leading a secessionist plot against the government.

The court says that plot led to a violent clash between villagers and security forces in Kratie province in May.

That clash opened a governmental crackdown on what it said was a separatist movement, leading to the arrest of Mam Sonando and others, as well as a subpoena for Chan Saveth, a prominent rights worker, for assisting the alleged plotters.

The last day of the trial included closing remarks of both the prosecution and defense who argued over a crossbow and air gun prosecutors displayed as evidence of a separatist agenda. Defense also argued against including evidence that Mam Sonando was invited to discussions in the US with an anti-government group.

Mam Sonando argued that had he planned to topple the government as accused, he would not have returned from the US.

Court Wraps Up Hearing in Case Against Beehive Radio Owner

Meanwhile, demonstrators outside the court continued to call for Mam Sonando’s release. Supporters who belong to his Association of Democrats said they were involved in a democracy group, not a separatist movement.

“No, no secession,” said Thlong Pal, a demonstrator outside the court. “He demanded we abide by the law.”

Ou Virak, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, who attended the proceedings and gave details to the media, said neither witnesses nor evidence was presented linking Mam Sonando to the Kratie incident.

“I hope that the court’s decision is based on the evidence and facts,” he said. “Not on politics.