Police in Thailand have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in an alleged politically motivated assassination in a popular tourist area.
Cambodian opposition politician Lim Kimya was gunned down near Bangkok's popular Khaosan Road tourist area on Tuesday evening. The killing is being investigated as a targeted attack, with authorities believing the hit man was hired.
Newsweek has contacted Royal Thai Police via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Kimya, 74, was a former member of Cambodia's now-dissolved opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The CNRP gained significant public support from its founding in 2012 by campaigning for democratic reforms, addressing widespread corruption, and opposing the authoritarian rule of ex-Prime Minister Hun Sen, who governed Cambodia for nearly four decades. A Supreme Court ruling saw the party banned five years later at the height of their influence.
What to Know
Lim was shot after arriving on a bus from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok with his wife and uncle. Security footage captured the suspect fleeing the scene on a motorbike after firing three shots, leaving Lim fatally wounded.
He was among several opposition figures who remained active in exile following the CNRP's banning, raising concerns about Cambodia's political climate under Hun Sen, who handed power to his son, Hun Manet, in 2023.
Bangkok's police chief, Siam Boonsom, stated that the suspect may have been assisted by another person who identified Lim to the gunman. "We have gathered evidence and know who is the perpetrator," Siam told reporters. "Right now, we are working to arrest him."
While Cambodian media have speculated the suspect is a former Thai marine with a criminal history, police have not confirmed these details. Investigators suspect the killing was premeditated and politically motivated.
The attack coincided with an anniversary celebration in Cambodia called 'Victory Day' where former Prime Minister Hun Sen called for stricter laws to label dissidents as terrorists.
What People Are Saying
The CNRP said in a statement it was "deeply shocked and appalled by the brutal and inhumane assassination." They plead for Thai authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, described the incident to Al Jazeera as a "cold-blooded killing," sending a message to Cambodian political activists that "no one is safe, even if they have left Cambodia."
Phil Robertson, director of the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, said the shooting "has all the hallmarks of a political assassination, and looks to be a significant escalation in the use of transnational repression in Bangkok" to intimidate opposition of the ruling government.
Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona denied government involvement to AFP, stating opposing figures "always accuse the government of everything groundlessly and without any evidence."
What's Next
Thai authorities are continuing their investigation, with police promising to apprehend both the gunman and any accomplices. Meanwhile, the CNRP and other opposition voices are expected to use the incident to highlight the dangers faced by exiled dissidents.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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