The spouse of a former Cambodian political opposition figure, who met a tragic end in a bold public assault in Bangkok, is convinced that the incident was politically motivated and not due to a personal disagreement.

Lim Ani, the surviving spouse, shared her views with Radio Free Asia last Thursday. This happened after a memorial service for Lim Kimya, the deceased, who has been a consistent critic of the Cambodian government in recent years. The service took place at a Cambodian Buddhist temple near Paris.

Lim Ani vehemently asserted that politics played a crucial role in the murder. She expressed her conviction that the incident was politically instigated. She added that her husband was a man of good character who held no personal grudges against anyone. However, his outspokenness about the injustices in Cambodia might have been the reason for his untimely death.

The tragic incident happened shortly after Lim Kimya, his wife Lim Ani, and his uncle landed in Bangkok on January 7. The former lawmaker was shot twice in Bangkok’s old quarter by an unknown assailant. Lim Ani, who holds French citizenship, flew to France a few days later. She underwent questioning by French judicial authorities and lodged a complaint about the shooting incident.

Thai authorities have apprehended and charged the alleged shooter Aekaluck Paenoi, a former Thai Marine. He was taken into custody in Cambodia’s Battambang province on January 8 and later deported to Thailand on January 11.

Ly Ratanakrasmey, an advisor to former Prime Minister Hun Sen, is suspected by Thai police to be the mastermind behind the assassination. However, a document shared on social media by a Cambodian government minister suggests that Ly Ratanaksmey was dismissed from his advisor position last March.

Lim Kimya was a dual citizen of France and Cambodia. He migrated to France in the early 1970s and worked for the French Ministry of Economy and Finance. He returned to Cambodia a year prior to the 2013 elections and served as a member of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in the National Assembly till 2018.

The funeral attended by several prominent figures, including Sam Rainsy, the acting president of the CNRP, was organized by Cambodians living in France. Rainsy, too, stated his belief that the shooting was politically motivated.