Cambodia’s detained opposition leader Kem Sokha called for free and fair elections in the Southeast Asian country in a New Year’s message on Monday. Kem Sokha, head of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in September. Kem Sokha’s message comes amid an ongoing crackdown by Cambodia’s government on critics, civil society groups and independent media. Throughout the whole year, a number of independent media outlets in Cambodia have been shut down for various reasons given by the government. On November 2017, Cambodia’s top court rejected a second appeal for Kem Sokha’s release. He is accused of working with the US to overthrow the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, a charge the opposition say is politically motivated.