CIVICUS discusses ongoing repression in Southeast Asia with Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates.
On 7 January 2025, former Cambodian opposition member of parliament Lim Kimya was assassinated in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Lim, a vocal critic of Cambodia’s ruling party, advocated democratic reforms despite receiving serious threats. His killing highlighted the suppression of Cambodia’s political opposition and the precarious situation of exiled activists in Thailand. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, a regional network of current and former parliamentarians, condemned the murder and called on Thai authorities to conduct thorough investigations and bring those responsible to justice. The organisation also urged the international community to protect political exiles and human rights defenders across Southeast Asia.