On 16 February 2023, a Bangkok court convicted Ekkalak Paenoi of life imprisonment. As a result, he was convicted in absentia for the murder of former Cambodian opposition leader Lim Kimya. The ruling came after the brutal shooting of Lim, which occurred on January 7. He was in Bangkok at the time with his wife, Anne-Marie Lim, and his brother. Given its political implications and allegations regarding the involvement of Cambodia’s leadership, the incident has become a subject of contention dispersing controversy.
Lim Kimya, a 39-year-old refugees French national, was shot at point blank range while on a public street. Her violent murder this July has amplified fear for political exiles and acts of violence against political dissidents. The Cambodian government shut down the CNRP right before the 2018 elections. The government alleged that the party was plotting to overthrow the state, but the CNRP has always flatly rejected these accusations, labeling them as a government invention.
Ekkalak Paenoi was taken into custody in Cambodia only a day after the murder. And perhaps most importantly, the killer later admitted to the crime in a livestreamed video, a fact that went a long way toward convicting him in court. On March 26, 2019, Bangkok Criminal Court convicted him of murder. He was further convicted of unlawful possession, carrying, and discharging a firearm in public.
“Since he confessed, the court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment,” – Bangkok Criminal Court judge
Ultimately, the court sentenced Paenoi to life in prison. On top of this, he is required to pay at least 1.79 million baht (about $55,162) in damages to the family of Lim Kimya. The judge noted that Paenoi’s actions had inflicted considerable harm on Lim’s loved ones.
The death has gained international outcry. Allegations have pointed the finger at former Prime Minister Hun Sen and other high-ranking members of the Cambodian government for ordering it. Recently Prime Minister Hun Manet rejected claims that his government, or that of his father’s, was involved.
“Anne-Marie is probably satisfied with today’s verdict, but she is still questioning who ordered the crime,” – Nadthasiri Bergman, a lawyer representing Lim’s family, stated after the verdict was announced.
Lim Kimya’s unacceptable murder sharply illuminates this political context. It raises urgent questions about the safety of exiled Indonesian politicians and dissidents in Southeast Asia. The CNRP’s dissolution and the treason accusations against its leaders have fostered an environment of intimidation and fear among opposition figures.
Nadthasiri Bergman underscored the widespread need for accountability that extends beyond Paenoi’s conviction. She urged Thai authorities to speed up the extradition processes for the other suspects involved in the case.
“We know the suspects are in Cambodia, and [the Thai government] could help push the extradition process to bring them to justice,” – Nadthasiri Bergman added.
Lim Kimya’s assassination continues to be a lightning rod for the concerns of human rights advocates and political observers alike. Now, as the world’s attention returns to Cambodia’s political landscape, advocates for the CNRP and human rights groups are calling for justice and transparency. Their calls for accountability resonate across the country.
