In a brazen attack that has shocked the international community, Thai police are seeking the suspected assassin of a former Cambodian opposition lawmaker who was gunned down in Bangkok's old quarter.
The Victim
The victim, 74-year-old Lim Kimya, was a former member of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP - an opposition group that surged in popularity before being dissolved ahead of the 2018 elections. Lim Kimya held dual citizenship in Cambodia and France.Details of the Attack
Lim Kimya was shot dead on Tuesday shortly after arriving in Thailand. The attack came shortly after he had traveled by bus to Bangkok, following his border crossing into Thailand from Cambodia with his wife and brother earlier that day. According to police reports, the assailant lay in wait before shooting Lim Kimya three times in a crowded area, underscoring the brazen nature of the killing.Suspect and Investigation
Thai authorities wasted no time in naming a suspect. On Wednesday, the Thai court issued an arrest warrant for a 41-year-old motorcycle taxi driver accused of carrying out the premeditated murder, Thai police confirmed. Confirmation of the issuance of such a warrant was made by Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, head of the local precinct.The killer, General Siam Boonsom said, was a professional hit man according to evidence so far. "We have gathered evidence and know who is the perpetrator. Right now we are working to arrest him," the police chief told reporters.
Background and Implications
The killing of Lim Kimya likely reignites concerns about political violence in Southeast Asia. A former member of the CNRP, he belonged to a party that had been accused of treason on what critics said were trumped-up charges by Cambodia's ruling party, the Cambodian People's Party, or CPP. The CNRP was forcibly dissolved by court order ahead of the 2018 elections, effectively silencing the most prominent opposition voice in Cambodian politics.Once more it awakens several questions regarding what truly motivated the killing and its results within regional security and political dissent.
Ongoing
As the investigation unfolds, the authorities are under pressure to apprehend the suspect and bring to light the circumstances that led to Lim Kimya's tragic death. The case serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by political dissidents and the challenges posed by cross-border crimes in Southeast Asia.
The international community is closely monitoring how Thai authorities deal with this high-profile case, which will have great ramifications not only for the bilateral relations of Thai and Cambodia but also the security of political exile in the region.