Cambodia’s strongman Hun Sen, as president of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has expelled a well-known and controversial social media influencer from the party, after she posted, what he deemed to be, harmful content affecting the army.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Hun Sen stated that he had decided to expel Thy Sovantha, 30, from the party, terminate her position as deputy governor of Arey Ksat town in Kandal province and remove her from all state duties.
One of the posts that reportedly led to her expulsion stated: “It is evident that most of our frontline soldiers suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach ulcers, liver and kidney disease. The main cause is alcohol consumption."
Hun Sen wrote: “We don’t have time to educate undisciplined officials when national affairs are demanding our attention. Time and again, Thy Sovantha has posted inappropriate messages on Facebook.”
He said that he had personally called her a few days earlier to tell her to delete two posts. “Today, she posted messages that hurt the army, while the army is defending the country,” he said.
As a result, Hun Sen instructed the chairman of the Kandal provincial branch to expel her from the CPP, and directed Deputy Interior Minister Sar Sokha to terminate her position as deputy governor.
“As the head of the ruling party, I have the right to do this to maintain party discipline among all members,” Hun Sen declared.
Thy Sovantha, who has about 2.5 million followers on Facebook, was appointed deputy governor in 2023.
In response to her expulsion, she wrote on Facebook: “Samdech Techo (Hun Sen’s honorific), grace is upon me. As high as the sky, as big as the earth, in whatever situation, you are my parents who saved my life…”
At just 18 years old, Thy Sovantha first emerged as a high-profile youth activist during Cambodia’s 2013 general election. She gained national attention as a vocal supporter of Sam Rainsy’s Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), using her Facebook presence to galvanise young voters.
By mid-2017, however, she had publicly broken from the CNRP and joined the ruling CPP. She cited disillusionment with the opposition and regret over mistakes made in her youth.
Her defection included a public apology and a pledge to bring a large base of supporters with, her in the name of political unity under the CPP platform.
