Tep Vanny’s prolonged detention is seen by some activists as part of a government plan to silence the opposition and spread fear among the people in time for the 2018 general elections.
Kuongezeka kwa muda wa Tep Vanny kuwa kizuizini kunaonwa na baadhi ya wanaharakati kama sehemu ya mpango wa serikali kunyamazisha wapinzani na kueneza hofu miongoni mwa watu kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu hapo 2018.