In brief
In a chilling incident, former Cambodian politician Lim Kimya was shot dead in Bangkok, raising alarms about the safety of dissidents in Thailand amid a wave of political violence.
The scene was packed with tourists when Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian legislator, was gunned down in broad daylight on a busy Bangkok street. Video footage released by police reveals how the assassin targeted the 73-year-old at a noodle stand near a bus terminal, firing three bullets before fleeing on a motorcycle. The attack marks an alarming escalation of political violence against exiled dissidents fleeing oppressive regimes, notably from Cambodia, where the ruling Hun family has silenced opposition for decades. Political figures in exile bemoan the deadly atmosphere, suggesting this assassination aligns with a global trend of "transnational repression" used by dictators to eliminate threats to their rule. The Thai police are investigating the incident, but the fear among activists continues to grow as they witness their comrades face retribution even while seeking asylum.
