Cambodians in Korea demonstrate against election at home

Cambodian residents of Korea raise their voices against their home country's latest election during a protest held in central Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

By Bereket Alemayehu

Cambodians in Korea held a protest against the national election in their home country in front of Bosingak belfry in downtown Seoul, Sunday. They voiced their objections to the election, which they said was illegitimately run by the country's dictatorial leadership.

Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of Cambodians, migrant workers, students, multicultural families and refugees from all over the country gathered to participate in the demonstration.

One of the rally's organizers was Ohn Chanthorn, a former representative of the opposition Candlelight Party who has lived for 11 years in Korea.

“I am very upset, angry because our Candlelight Party was strong enough to compete in today's election in Cambodia but illegally disqualified by the National Election Committee (NEC),” he told The Korea Times. “Our party appealed against disqualification to the Cambodia Constitutional Council. However the council ruled that the NEC's decision to prevent the Candlelight Party from standing in today's national election was valid.”

Ohn Chanthorn, a former representative of the opposition Candlelight Party, holds a Cambodian flag during a protest against his home country's latest election held in central Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

The reason, he said was to give a winning chance to the dictatorial regime led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who stood unchallenged in the election. Hun Sen, 70, has been the leader of Cambodia since 1998.

“That's the reason we, Cambodians in Korea, are here to protest, to say that let alone the results, the election itself is unacceptable,” Ohn said. “We have been telling the people to not go to the votes. If you don't vote the government fails. The regime wants to keep the power again and again so it puts all pressures to get the votes, including intimidating and persecuting dissidents. So, we, activists and community leaders, are here to protest against the election, against the dictatorial Cambodian government and to be a voice for the voiceless people in our home country.”

He also accused the government of giving away Cambodian land to Vietnam illegally.

A Cambodian woman who wished to be identified only as Huy, a resident of Korea for 11 years, attended the rally with her Korean husband. She said the prime minister is unacceptable to the people and has stayed in power for too long without providing freedom and democracy.

A woman surnamed Huy holds a Cambodian flag during a protest in central Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

She gave a speech against the regime calling for change, and rejected the election by saying that it was merely for show. Huy called on the Korean people and government to pay attention, and not to support the dictatorial regime.

The main organizer of the demonstration was the Cambodia Peace Forum, a civic organization established in 2023 by Cambodian activists in Korea which strives for freedom and democracy.

Sokhem Ser, its chair founder, explained the forum's reason for organizing the protest on the day of the national election. “To support peace, freedom and democracy in our motherland, Cambodia, we need to foster the spirit of unity and protection of our people wherever we are,” he said, adding that the election was “unfair, because we couldn't find any opposition parties to vote for in Cambodia.” He acknowledged that Cambodians were staging similar protests in many parts of the world. He called for the Korean government to not stand with and support the Hun Sen government.

Sokhem Ser, chair founder of the Cambodia Peace Forum, speaks during a protest against his home country's latest election held in central Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Hun Sen is a former military commander of the Khmer Rouge regime known for repressing political rivals. It has been reported that he is currently grooming his son to take over power when he retires. According to Reuters, many Cambodian opposition politicians and supporters have fled into exile abroad, many have been convicted in absentia ― some in person ― in mass trials on charges of treason and colluding with foreigners to topple the regime.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also a co-founder for a

social initiative called Hanokers

and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency. Visit photopatternist.com for more information.