A Sam Rainsy Party district official said Wednesday that Ly Sreymonin, 36, a party councillor for Banteay Meanchey province, has been charged with inciting violent opposition to a court-ordered land seizure.

Sao Poleak, an SRP councillor for O’Chrov district, said police arrested Ly Sreymonin, of Poipet district, after he left a council meeting Wednesday.

“They accused him of starting fires and generally disturbing the enforcement of the court’s verdict, but when the [land seizure] occurred he wasn’t there,” Sao Poleak said. “He had helped people with legal issues before, but he didn’t cause any problems.”

Ly Sreymonin denied the charges, saying he was in Phnom Penh at the time of the seizure. He dismissed the notion of incitement and said the real motive behind his arrest was to “break down our democratic consciousness”.

Ly Sreymonin was released after questioning but said he would worry about being arrested again as long as the charges against him were still standing.

“They only let me go temporarily,” he said. “They can arrest me any time they want. However, they will not stop me from continuing to help people.”