The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court of First Instance, pictured on 15 September 2023.

Seven Candlelight Party officials and members were sent to pre-trial detention yesterday evening, after being charged with either incitement and/or fraud under Articles 494–495 and Articles 377–378 of the Criminal Code, respectively. They are currently detained in Banteay Meanchey provincial prison.

The seven charged activists were part of a larger group of 23 Candlelight members who were questioned by police in Banteay Meanchey from Saturday, 9 September in relation to the creation of a new political party. The basis for the criminal charges has not been confirmed.

The seven charged Candlelight political activists are Sin Vatha, Banteay Meanchey provincial party chief; Long Lavy, Banteay Meanchey provincial party deputy chief; Tes Sambath Vathano, party member; Tout Veasna, Mongkol Borei district party chief; Chhom Sinath, Mongkol Borei district party deputy chief; Vann Suy Eiv, elected Koy Maeng commune councillor; and Him La, a Candlelight supporter. Five of the activists have been charged with both incitement and fraud; the latter two (Vann Suy Eiv and Him La) have been charged with incitement only.

The Candlelight Party was excluded from participating in the 23 July 2023 National Election after a May 2023 decision by the National Election Committee (NEC). The NEC ruled that Candlelight, which had a strong showing and was the primary opposition party in the June 2022 Commune Elections, was ineligible to be listed on the ballot as it had failed to produce an original registration document.

This Flash Info was amended on 19 September 2023 to reflect the detention of a seventh individual (Mr. Him La), about which LICADHO was notified after publication. Clarification has also been provided about the number of criminal charges.