Former Cambodian opposition MP Lim Kimya was shot dead in Bangkok on Tuesday. The fatal attack occurred near the bustling Khao San Road area, with Thai media reporting that the gunman, who was riding a motorcycle, opened fire as Kimya arrived in the Thai capital from Siem Reap, Cambodia. Kimya, a dual Cambodian-French national, died at the scene.
Thai police confirmed the death but refrained from identifying the victim as Kimya, stating, “We are currently investigating the motives and will provide more information at a later time.” The Bangkok Post reported that a manhunt has been launched to track down the assassin.
Kimya’s wife and uncle, who had traveled with him, witnessed the horrifying incident. An AFP photojournalist later observed bloodstains at the scene, underscoring the brutality of the attack.
Kimya rose to prominence in 2013 after being elected as an opposition MP under the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The CNRP posed a serious challenge to the long-standing rule of then-Prime Minister Hun Sen during that year’s general elections. However, the CNRP’s political journey was cut short in 2017 when it was dissolved by court order.
Following the party’s dissolution, numerous opposition figures faced bans on political activity, and many fled abroad amidst a wave of arrests and convictions. Despite holding French citizenship, Kimya chose to remain in Cambodia, stating in 2017, “I will never give up politics.”
Kimya’s assassination comes on the same day Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, called for legislation to label anyone attempting to overthrow his son, Hun Manet, as a “terrorist.” After ruling Cambodia for nearly four decades, Hun Sen stepped down in 2023, passing leadership to Hun Manet.
Rights groups have long accused Hun Sen of using Cambodia’s legal system to silence dissent and crush opposition. Kimya’s untimely death marks another grim chapter in the country’s turbulent political landscape, leaving questions about the motive behind his killing and its broader implications for Cambodian politics.
