Kem Ley, a prominent political analyst critical of the Cambodian government, was assassinated on July 10, 2016. Oeuth Ang, a former military police officer, was arrested and convicted for the murder, claiming it was due to a personal dispute over a debt. However, many believe the killing was politically motivated due to Ley’s outspoken criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen. In 2019, authorities prevented commemorations of his death, and a full, transparent investigation is still lacking.
