Hun Sen’s Facebook Fiasco: A Hacker’s Coup
On August 10, 2018, a group of cyber‑villains hit the official Facebook page of Cambodia’s long‑time ruler, Hun Sen, and posted a sham announcement that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party would cede four parliamentary seats to the opposition. The bogus post, which lived on for about an hour and earned roughly 3,300 “likes,” was eventually taken down.
Why the Post Was A No‑Go
- Skepticism from the CPP: Mr. Sok Eysan, a spokesperson for the ruling party, confirmed that no such seat‑sharing plan ever existed.
- Speculation of a hack: The party suggested that opposition groups, traitors or outlawed rebels were behind the post, perhaps hoping to stir civilian unrest.
- Targeted parties: The fake claim said those seats would go to the minority Funcinpec Party and the League for Democracy Party—both parties that had brushed aside justice this past month.
Behind the Electoral Curtain
In the months that followed the 2018 election—during which Hun Sen swept almost all 125 parliamentary seats—C’s political environment has become increasingly one‑party in practice. The election’s legitimacy was already under scrutiny due to the demise of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which had been jailed, banned, and alleged of treason—a fate that hurt the democratic grain of the country.
Despite a wave of 80 % voter turnout, more than 600,000 ballots were deemed spoiled or invalid, hinting at potential voter intimidation.
Social Media and the Youth Wave
At the centre of the drama is hun sen’s growing use of social media. His Facebook account boasts a staggering 10 million likes—a testament to his gamble to win the hearts of Cambodia’s youth, who make up two‑thirds of a 16‑million population. Yet rumours of “click farms” buying likes bug the party’s image, a claim that Hun Sen flatly denies.
International Reaction
- United States: Lodged formal criticism on the overwhelming majority and governance methods.
- European Union: Expressed concerns about policing of criticism and civil society as part of democratic backsliding.
In short, the short‑lived Facebook hoax was a microcosm of Cambodia’s political tightrope: a leader with an iron grip, a parliament that’s closing in on himself, and a public pushed to the margins through digital avenues—all wrapped in a pinch of viral pranksters and a barely‑scrutinised electoral spectacle.
