Opposition leader Kem Sokha told VOA Khmer he would spend more time to explain to the court and prosecution his works as a human rights activist and politician, which he said they were mistaken as an attempt to start a revolution.
Kem Sokha spoke to VOA Khmer Thursday morning as he departed for the second day of his treason trial, which began on Wednesday. The opposition leader said he had only worked in his political and human rights careers to empower those who were “fearful, uninformed, and hungry.”
“What I am doing is for democracy and human rights,” he said outside his home in Tuol Kork. “I am not sure if they understand it or not.”
He said any activities he conducted in the political sphere were only linked to winning elections and were in no way a “color revolution.” The government has characterized Kem Sokha’s work, going as far back as 1993, as a so-called color revolution to bring down the Hun Sen government.
“I believe that if we do not do anything wrong then there will always be primarily justice in our hearts,” he said, before getting into his car. “That would be considered a success.”
Kem Sokha also recounted that he questioned the court on his treason charge saying that the Criminal Code was enforced in 2010, but that his alleged crimes were, according to the court, dating back to 1993.
The court has resumed the trial hearing Thursday morning, where the judges will delve into Kem Sokha's work from 2008 till he was arrested in 2017.