Police on Tuesday arrested three activists and one other man who angered Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen by making critical comments in a Facebook video about a longstanding economic cooperation agreement with Vietnam and Laos.
The arrests in Siem Reap province came after the activists posted a video discussion about the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area, or CLV.
Hun Sen, who stepped down as prime minister last year but remains a powerful force, said in a televised speech on Tuesday that he ordered the arrests. Cambodia’s judicial system is designed to be separate from other government authorities but is often criticized for its lack of independence.
The 1999 CLV agreement was aimed at encouraging economic development and trade between Cambodia’s four northeastern provinces and neighboring provinces across the border.
In the 11-minute video, the three activists spoke about general concerns among Cambodians that the CLV could cause Cambodia to lose territory or control of some of its natural resources to Vietnam.
The activists – Srun Srorn, Peng Sophea and San Sith – are known for their workshops on Cambodia’s 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, which formally ended decades of civil war. The workshops are part of efforts to educate Cambodians about the development of parliamentary democracy in the country.
In his speech, Hun Sen warned against making comments about the potential loss of Cambodian territorial integrity to Vietnam – a sensitive political issue that has led to the arrests of numerous opposition activists.
“You won’t see the teacher of the October 23, 1991, Paris Agreement,” he said in the speech, which was posted to Facebook.
He went on to say that comments about the Paris Agreement were acceptable, but remarks about the CVL were “breaching the law.” He added that the Ministry of Commerce has documents that show that the CVL doesn’t put Cambodia’s territory at risk.
Criticism of case forbidden
In December, Srun Srorn was physically assaulted by unidentified men at a Buddhist temple in Thailand's Samut Prakan province.
The attack came two days after Thai authorities raided a Paris Peace Agreement workshop given by Srun Srorn in Bangkok that was attended by 30 Cambodian migrant workers and political asylum seekers.
A Thai police officer later told Srun Srorn that two arrested suspects confessed to the attack but said the assault wasn’t related to the workshop.
Hun Sen, who is also president of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, also said on Tuesday that court officials shouldn’t add the three activists to a government list of people eligible for commutations or pardons.
Additionally, anyone who criticizes the arrests could also face criminal charges, he said.
Svay Pov, the wife of San Sith, told Radio Free Asia that police said the arrests were made because their Facebook comments offended the government.
“What the government is doing is shutting down the rights and freedoms of the people,” she said.
On Wednesday, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged the four with “incitement causing serious chaos to social security.”
“The four individuals used Srun Srorn’s Facebook to make twisted and exaggerated comments intended to incite people’s anger against the government’s leadership,” a statement from the court said.
Also on Wednesday, police arrested another activist at his home just after he posted a comment that criticized the CLV agreement and a 180-km (112 mile) canal project.
“Cambodia is facing many major problems,” The Thilen said. “People are having a tough time surviving. Those issues include the Funan Canal and uncertain information about our four provinces involved with Vietnam. This is such a hot topic that I can’t sit still and sleep.”
Thilen’s father told RFA that police have accused his son of assaulting someone.
“My son didn’t attack anyone,” the father said. “Police made the allegation as an excuse to arrest my son.”
Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.
This story has been updated to add Wednesday’s charges and details about a new arrest.