Cambodia politician jailed for Facebook posts

Phnom Penh : A Cambodian opposition politician was jailed for five years on Friday for Facebook comments criticising the government over a recent border dispute with Laos. 

The two Southeast Asian neighbours had a brief war of words earlier this month sparked by 30 Laos troops entering Cambodian territory.

It was swiftly resolved after Cambodian strongman premier Hun Sen travelled to Vientiane and won assurances the soldiers would be withdrawn.

Sourn Serey Ratha, head of the Khmer Power Party, a small opposition party, was arrested for posts criticising Hun Sen and the military, suggesting generals would be partying while Cambodian troops fight in Laos. 

He was hit with a raft of charges including inciting military personnel to be disobedient and demoralising military personnel. On Friday, he was convicted. 

Hun Sen, 65, has run Cambodia for more than three decades and often draws on heavily nationalist rhetoric to drum up support, especially ahead of election season. 

He previously threatened to arrest anyone who suggested he was using the border row to boost his popularity.

He likes to portray himself as the saviour of country that was ravaged by decades of civil war and foreign invasions.

Critics say corruption and rights abuses have flourished under his tenure. 

Cambodia has a national elections scheduled for 2018 which many expect to be a close-run race. Opposition parties made significant gains in 2013 polls and during recent local elections.