In this exclusive IJ-Reportika interview, Pakistani human rights lawyer and LEAD Ministries founder Sardar Mushtaq Gill shares his powerful journey of faith, freedom, and justice. From facing blasphemy charges and persecution to defending Pakistan’s most vulnerable Christian communities, Gill reflects on resilience, displacement, and his mission to stand with the voiceless across borders.
BANGKOK — A Thai gunman was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the killing of a Cambodian opposition politician in Bangkok, with the former lawmaker’s widow left questioning who ordered the killing. Lim Kimya, 74, a former legislator and member of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) as well as an outspoken critic of veteran Cambodian leader Hun Sen, was shot dead by Aekaluck Paenoi, a former Thai Marine, in footage captured on closed circuit television in the afternoon of Jan. 7 on a busy street in Bangkok. Two Cambodian suspects remain wanted by Thai authorities for their alleged involvement. Arrest warrants and Interpol “red notices” were issued in January. Pich Kimsrin, inset photo, is wanted as an accomplice in the killing of Lim Kimya and is believed to be pictured following Lim Kimya on a bus from Cambodia to Thailand.(Pich Kimsrin via Facebook, inset, and Amarin TV) Days after the killing, following media reports that Ratanakrasksmey was a former adviser to Hun Sen, Cambodia’s ruling party released a statement saying he was dismissed from the role in March 2024. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is the eldest son of Hun Sen, and other government officials have denied any official involvement. Lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman speaks to reporters outside the court in Bangkok, Oct. 3, 2025.(Pimuk Rakkanam/RFA) “I still also feel that there is something the police could do in investigating and try to get the additional two people that (are) already identified into a justice process,” Bergman told reporters. In February, Lim Ani told RFA Khmer that her husband’s killing was “definitely political.” “He exposed the injustices that happened in Cambodia,” she said. Thai officials earlier this year issued arrest warrants for two suspected Cambodian accomplices in the shooting. A Ministry of Interior spokesman told RFA Khmer that the Cambodian constitution doesn’t allow for the extradition of Cambodian nationals. Am Sam Ath, operations director of Cambodian rights group Licadho, told the AFP news agency that the life sentence for the Thai gunman offered partial justice for Lim Kimya, who was a dual French and Cambodian citizen. “Since Lim Kimya is also a Cambodian, we want to see that Thai authorities and the Thai court conduct further investigations in order to render full justice for him,” Am Sam Ath said. “We want to see an investigation into people involved (in the killing).” With reporting by AFP and Reuters. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
BANGKOK – A trial began Tuesday for a man alleged to have shot and killed Cambodian opposition politician Lim Kimya during a brazen daytime attack in the Thai capital earlier this year. Lim Kimya’s widow, Lim Ani, told reporters outside the courthouse that she wanted to know why her husband was murdered. “I want to know the story behind the case. Who the masterminds were. I believe the judicial system here could help,” she said through a translator. “His death has turned everything upside down in my daily life,” she said. In this Oct. 17, 2017, photo, Lim Kimya, a member of the National Assembly from Cambodia National Rescue Party, speaks during an interview with AFP in Phnom Penh.(Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Lim Kimya, 74, a former legislator and member of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party as well as an outspoken critic of veteran Cambodian leader Hun Sen, was shot in the afternoon of Jan. 7 on a busy street in Bangkok’s old quarter. He died at the scene. Authorities arrested Aekaluck Paenoi, a former Thai marine who worked as a motorcycle taxi driver, in Cambodia’s Battabang province the following day. He was extradited to Thailand three days later and charged with premeditated murder. He later confessed to the crime. One of Lim Ani’s lawyers, Nadthasiri Bergman, said outside the courthouse Tuesday that she believed the alleged gunman would be convicted because he had already confessed. “But our concern is that we might not get to the bottom of why the assassination happened, and we hope to find that answer today during the witness examination.” In February, Lim Ani told RFA Khmer that her husband’s killing was “definitely political.” “He exposed the injustices that happened in Cambodia,” she said. In February, Thai officials issued arrest warrants for two suspected Cambodian accomplices in the shooting. A Ministry of Interior spokesman told RFA Khmer that the Cambodian constitution doesn’t allow for the extradition of Cambodian nationals. Cambodian opposition figures have accused Hun Sen of ordering the shooting. Cambodian leader Hun Manet has denied that his government or Hun Sen, his father, were involved in the killing. Other officials have also denied allegations of involvement. The trial is expected to conclude in March. Includes reporting by Pimuk Rakkanam in Bangkok and Agence France-Presse. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
This comprehensive report examines China’s growing influence operations in Sri Lanka, particularly in the media landscape. From pro-China narratives in leading newspapers to state-owned collaborations with Xinhua and CGTN Sinhala, Beijing has entrenched its presence across print, broadcast, and digital platforms. The report also highlights the role of local influencers, think tanks, and Confucius Institutes in amplifying China’s soft power. While these efforts project a positive image of Beijing, they raise serious concerns about press freedom, debt dependency, and the erosion of independent discourse in Sri Lanka.
RFA Perspectives — Nepal’s streets have exploded in protest. Thousands of young people, angered by a government ban on social media, are standing up against corruption and inequality. In Vietnam, the youth are watching closely, because Nepal’s story feels eerily familiar. Video: Why Vietnam is paying attention to the protests in NepalWhy Vietnam cares So why are Vietnamese youth paying attention to what’s happening in Nepal? Because Nepal’s uprising highlights struggles they know all too well. Censorship, corruption, unemployment, and the communist party – these challenges echo in both societies. For Vietnam’s younger generation, Nepal’s story is not only a warning, but also a source of reflection and, perhaps, inspiration. Social media control The protest in Nepal was triggered by the state’s decision to block social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. In Vietnam, social media is tightly monitored, with posts taken down and activists punished. For both countries, digital spaces aren’t just entertainment; they are lifelines for free expression and e-commerce. When governments try to silence them, the youth push back. Protesters take selfies and celebrate at the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal’s government’s various ministries and offices, after it was set on fire during a protest against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 9, 2025.(Niranjan Shrestha/AP) When a fellow communist party-led system shows cracks, it challenges the narrative that Vietnamese citizens have heard for decades. In both countries, young people feel decisions are made without them, and often at their expense. In closing As Nepal’s protests unfold, Vietnamese youth are watching with interest. The events in Nepal may not predict Vietnam’s future, but they highlight questions many young people across Asia are asking today. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
An official from the commission set up by Myanmar’s ruling military junta to oversee upcoming elections said Thursday that the results of the widely disputed poll will be available by the end of January. At a news conference in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, election officials said that six parties would run for nationwide seats, while another 51 others would compete in individual states or regions. The vote is scheduled to be held in three phases beginning on Dec. 28, with two weeks between each phase, officials said. The military announced the election regime in July, the first national vote since the 2021 coup that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government and plunged the country into civil war. It also set up an interim government with military chief Min Aung Hlaing retaining power as interim president. The military doesn’t control all of Myanmar. Vast swaths are administered by a range of armed militias, ethnic groups and pro-democracy fighters, some in open, armed conflict with the ruling junta. At the press conference, election council member Khin Maung Oo noted 63 areas “which have security risks.” “We will continue working until we can hold [the vote],” he said. The military has framed the election as a way to end the conflict. Critics have called the election a sham, saying the military would retain power regardless of the vote. However, criticism of the election is illegal in Myanmar. State-run media reported on Wednesday that a 36-year-old man in eastern Shan state was sentenced to seven years of hard labor for a Facebook post that contained surveillance video of a robbery and criticized the military junta for prioritizing the election over public safety. It was the first known conviction under a new law, enacted in July, that criminalized speech or actions that might disrupt the election or the tools used to conduct it. Includes reporting from Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, ahead of a massive Chinese military parade on Wednesday that will celebrate 80 years since the Japanese defeat that ended World War II. Kim and his daughter Kim Ju Ae arrived at around 4 p.m. on a green train bedecked with North Korean flags. They were met at the Beijing train station by Cai Qui, China’s fifth-highest ranked official, and foreign minister Wang Yi. It’s the North Korean leader’s second reported trip abroad in six years, and his first trip to China since 2019. The event at Tiananmen Square is expected to include troops marching in formation, aircraft flyovers, displays of military equipment and some 50,000 spectators. But many eyes will be on the VIP audience, where Kim is expected to rub shoulders with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, among others. While Kim has engaged bilaterally with Xi and Putin in recent months, this will be their first gathering together. Analysts say they’ll be looking for signs of strengthening ties among the three countries. Earlier on Tuesday, Xi met with Putin at the Great Hall of the People and then again at his residence. That followed a summit on Monday in which Xi and Putin met with leaders from more than 20 non-Western countries. Among them was Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, who talked with both Xi and Putin. Includes reporting from Agence France-Presse and Reuters. We are : Investigative Journalism Reportika Investigative Reports Daily Reports Interviews Surveys Reportika
The Chinese coast guard ship that was damaged in a collision with another Chinese vessel in the South China Sea earlier this month is now being repaired at Hainan Island, according to satellite images published by Reuters.
Lawmakers in Phnom Penh on Monday approved a law that will allow the government to strip Cambodian citizenship from people convicted of conspiring with foreign governments against the national interest.
China’s influence in Bangladesh is expanding beyond trade and infrastructure into media, academia, and social networks. This report uncovers how Beijing’s propaganda and soft power strategies are reshaping narratives, fueling pro-China sentiment, and amplifying anti-India rhetoric across the country.
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