Amnesty International has raised concerns following the assassination of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian-French opposition politician, in Bangkok, Thailand. Kimya, who was a vocal critic of the Cambodian government, was shot by a gunman on January 7, 2025, as he arrived from Siem Reap, Cambodia, accompanied by his wife and uncle. The Bangkok Post reported that two bullets were fired into the right side of his back, rupturing his heart and liver, according to the police autopsy report.
The suspect, identified as a former member of the Thai Navy with a criminal background and an outstanding arrest warrant, was apprehended at a restaurant in the northwestern Thai province of Battambang. Thai authorities report he fled the initial shooting scene on a motorcycle.
In a statement, Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International’s Interim Regional Deputy Director for Research, urged the Thai government to ensure a comprehensive investigation into Kimya’s murder, stressing the importance of accountability without resorting to capital punishment. Schuetze emphasized Thailand’s responsibility to protect the rights of Cambodian government critics within its jurisdiction and to adhere to international obligations.
The slain politician was previously affiliated with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), an alliance formed between two opposition parties: the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party. The CNRP was forcibly dissolved in November 2017 by Cambodia’s Supreme Court, resulting in a five-year political ban for 118 senior party officials. Many former members continue to face human rights violations domestically and abroad, including potential targeted attacks and violent repression. Amnesty International has highlighted a broader context of threats faced by regional opposition figures, activists, and human rights defenders in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, which includes incidences of abductions, enforced disappearances, killings, and forced returns.
For more detailed information, Amnesty International’s denouncement can be found on their official site.