See reports on this subject in Khmer here.
A Cambodian woman who criticized the non -conclusive efforts of Phnom Penh to negotiate with Washington on commercial prices is in reticulum of the Cambodian police who accuses him of trying to overthrow the government and to say that they will ask Thailand to extradite it.
The woman, identified by police as Chhin Chou of Battambang province, had published a sound on video images of the Minister of Commerce du Cambodge on Facebook under the name of user “woman abroad”. In this document, she said that the first cycle of pricing negotiations between Cambodia and US officials in Washington on May 15 had failed and that the second round due in early June would also fail because of human rights violations of the Cambodian government.
The United States is the least developed Cambodia export market and the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet has a 49% American tariff rate on its vital shoes and textile sectors unless it can conclude an agreement with the Trump administration.
“Unless we followed their requests, they will not agree,” said a woman abroad. “We have to stop illegal actions in Cambodia and ensure free and fair elections. If the Cambodian management cannot meet these conditions, the second cycle of negotiations will also fail. ”
Last Friday, Cambodia National Police last week has a statement accusing Chhin Chou of distorting the facts and incentive to overthrow the government. Describing her as an opposition activist, the police said that he was preparing the legal procedures necessary to cooperate with the Thai authorities to have her arrested and extradited to Cambodia.
Thailand previously cooperated in arrests of Cambodian militants of the opposition on its soil – which generally did so on calm due to the criticism it faces by human rights activists and certain Western governments when it deports refugees who could face political persecution in Cambodia. In this case, Cambodian police took the unusual measure to appoint the suspect they were looking for.
On Monday, police colonel Katatorn Khamtienng, deputy spokesperson for the Thai immigration office, told Radio Free Asia that the office had not yet received a directive from the Thai national police office to arrest Chhin Chou.
Ny Sokha, president of the Cambodian organization of human rights Adhoc, said that the online message did not constitute an illegal act, because it is a legitimate expression of opinion protected by law.
“National and international laws, in particular the Constitution, clearly guarantee the freedom of Cambodian citizens to meet and express opinions. So, in my opinion, we must make a clear distinction between criminal offenses and freedom of legal expression,” said Ny Sokha.
RFA Khmer was able to contact Chhin Chou last week, but she refused to comment, saying that she was looking for a safe location.
The government of Cambodia has demonstrated tolerance for the reduction of dissident opinions.
According to a 2024 report by Human Rights Watch, at least 94 people were arrested by the Cambodian authorities for “incentive to cause serious social problems and betrayal” due to government criticism. Among these, 59 people were allegedly held illegally, said the rights defending group.
Intolerance extends to journalists such as Ouk Mao, who had reported on the forest farm in a wildlife sanctuary in northern Cambodia. He was arrested by the plainclothes police without a mandate on May 16. He was accused of incitement and defamation.
On Sunday, a judge from the Provincial Court of Sung Treng ordered the release of Ouk Mao on bond. He still faces 15 other complaints involving accusations of illegal exploitation, encroachment and burning of forest land for private property.
Ouk Mao told RFA that he would continue to protect the forest more vigorously than before and was not afraid of wooden traders or those who destroy forests.
“Now, I no longer have fear or hesitation. I will continue to protect the forest even more strongly than before. I ask that I do not have the freedom to help protect the forest so that it can be kept in the long term,” he said.
Pimuk Rakkanam in Bangkok contributed the reports. Translated by Poly Sam. Edited by Mat Pennington.