• A Thai man, Ekkalak Paenoi, confessed to killing a former Cambodian lawmaker, Lim Kimya, as an act of gratitude.
• He was arrested in Cambodia and extradited to Thailand, where he faces charges of premeditated murder.
• Cambodian opposition figures accuse the former leader Hun Sen of orchestrating the killing, while government denies involvement.
• The murder raises concerns about political repression and violence against opposition figures in Cambodia.
• The Cambodia National Rescue Party called for a thorough investigation into the assassination.

A suspect in the assassination of former Cambodian opposition lawmaker Lim Kimya, Ekkalak Paenoi, revealed that he committed the act to repay a debt of gratitude to an individual who assisted him during challenging times in his life. The confession was made via a livestream on Saturday after he was charged with premeditated murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm. According to police, Ekkalak, a former marine who now works as a motorbike taxi driver, was apprehended in Cambodia and extradited to Thailand shortly thereafter.

Lim Kimya was fatally shot in Bangkok as he arrived from Cambodia with his French wife, triggering a wave of accusations against Hun Sen, the long-time former leader of Cambodia, who previous critics allege may have ordered the assassination. Despite these claims, a government spokesperson has strongly denied any official connection to the event, as reported by South China Morning Post.

After the arrest, police sources indicated Ekkalak was allegedly offered a payment of approximately 60,000 baht (around US$1,700) to carry out the act, although he claimed he did not receive any money for the murder. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities also seeking a Cambodian accomplice related to the incident.

The shocking murder represents a significant escalation in what has been termed the transnational repression against opposition figures. "This has all the hallmarks of a political assassination," remarked Phil Robertson from the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, highlighting rising concerns over human rights violations under Hun Sen's regime over the years.

In a broader context, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which faced dissolution amid a crackdown on opposition leading to the 2018 elections, urged for a comprehensive investigation into the killing, declaring profound shock at the brutal incident. Hun Sen has recently intensified rhetoric against potential dissent, suggesting perpetrators aiming to challenge the new government leadership should be labeled as "terrorists".

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