Road opens for emergency powers

Taking charge: Interior Minister Sar Kheng (left) voting alongside lawmakers at the National Assembly. — AFP

Cambodia’s parliament has passed a law to prepare the way for a state of emergency, which Prime Minister Hun Sen has said he might have to declare to reinforce the campaign against the coronavirus.Human rights groups say an emergency would give sweeping powers to Hun Sen, who Western countries have long condemned for crackdowns on opponents, civil rights groups and the media.

The law allows the government under an emergency to monitor communications, control media and social media, prohibit or restrict distribution of information that could generate public fear or unrest, or that could damage national security.