The United States ambassador to Cambodia said on Thursday that he is troubled by "fabricated conspiracy theories" at the treason trial of opposition party leader Kem Sokha, who is accused of plotting to overthrow longtime leader Hun Sen.
Kem Sokha was arrested in 2017 and his party was banned as the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen cracked down on opposition, civil society groups and the media in the run-up to 2018 parliament elections in which the ruling party won every seat.
Kem Sokha's treason charges stem from accusations that he was conspiring with the United States to overthrow Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia with an iron first for more than three decades. Kem Sokha denies the charges, saying they are politically motivated.