Hundreds Join March in Cambodia a Few Hours After Government Critic Was Shot Dead · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

This image of Kem Ley was widely shared by Twitter users. Source: ‏@RPanh
A prominent political analyst and government critic was shot dead inside the store of a gas station in Cambodia on July 10. Hundreds of Cambodians spontaneously gathered near the crime scene and marched in Phnom Penh, the country’s capital, to condemn the killing.
Kem Ley, leader of the Grassroots Democracy Party, is a popular commentator and researcher known for his hard-hitting stance against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen has been in power for more than three decades.
The killing of Kem Ley took place a few days after an independent investigative report was published exposing the questionable business transactions of Hun Sen’s family.
The gunman who shot Kem Ley was quickly arrested by police.
The suspect confessed his crime in a video and claimed that he killed Kem Ley because the latter owed him some money.
Many Cambodians refuse to believe this since they think Kem Ley's murder could be related to the worsening political climate in the country wherein several leading members of the political opposition and scores of activists have been charged, arrested, and intimidated by authorities in recent weeks.
Below are some of the scenes in Phnom Penh a few hours after the killing of Kem Ley:
#Cambodia: a large crowd has gathered at scene where political analyst Kem Ley was shot and killed this morning pic.twitter.com/ciT96nLjhE
— Kingsley Abbott (@AbbottKingsley) July 10, 2016
Angry mourners are gathering near where Kem Ley was killed this morning, covering his car with flowers and incense. pic.twitter.com/sgunoGKoO1
— Julia Wallace (@julia_wallace) July 10, 2016
A growing crowd has gathered outside the convenience store where Kem Ley was shot this morning. #cambodia pic.twitter.com/qZbekqKmpS
— Irwin Loy (@illied) July 10, 2016
People wrote that ” Kem Ley is Khmer's hero.” pic.twitter.com/VIqUv9SGfw
— Noan Sereiboth (@noansereiboth) July 10, 2016
One man shaved his hairs bc of an analyst Kem Ley died pic.twitter.com/0Hv9IEhCPT
— Noan Sereiboth (@noansereiboth) July 10, 2016
The march which accompanied the transportation of Kem Ley’s corpse attracted a large crowd in Phnom Penh:
Onlookers at Caltex Bokor that a prominent analyst Kem Ley shot dead in daylight this morning. pic.twitter.com/SD7PhiYgbZ
— Noan Sereiboth (@noansereiboth) July 10, 2016
Many hundreds in the streets at Russian Federation and Monivong, protesting killing of #KemLey #Cambodia pic.twitter.com/0ntj7BW9Cs
— James Reddick (@jredd66) July 10, 2016
Hundreds of people are taking the body of slain political analyst Kem Ley to Wat Chas in Chroy Changvar #cambodia pic.twitter.com/lxIb1i8jrH
— Ruom (@RuomCollective) July 10, 2016
The parade of body of Kem Ley, political analysis who were shot dead this morning #KemLey pic.twitter.com/bXw0cqQ0qV
— Mory Sar (@morysarss) July 10, 2016
The crowd continues to grow as people accompany the body of slain political commentator Kem Ley. pic.twitter.com/UdvqlI0x2U
— Ruom (@RuomCollective) July 10, 2016
Writer Kounila echoes the sentiment of many Internet users:
I don't buy the current joke that #KemLey was murdered due2 debt. Cambodians've seen what he posted on FB, & clearly know what happened. RIP
— Kounila (@Kounila) July 10, 2016
Kem Ley’s last radio interview could give some clue about his death:
Kem Ley on radio last week: “When regime wanted to kill, labels them [conspirators] not loyal to the regime. Then they kill them.’ #Cambodia
— Daniel Pye (@DannyPyez) July 10, 2016
The United States Embassy joined Cambodians in mourning the death of Kem Ley:
Shocking & sad news: the murder of #KemLey, one of #Cambodia‘s most prominent political analysts. Our deepest condolences go to his family.
— US Embassy Cambodia (@USEmbPhnomPenh) July 10, 2016
Even Prime Minister Hun Sen has denounced the killing and has ordered the police to solve the case and impose stricter gun controls.
There are reports that a bigger funeral is being readied in the next few days. The hashtag #KemLey can be used to track news related to the killing.