A prominent overseas opposition activist defected to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party on Friday, two months after his brother was arrested on incitement charges while trying to flee the country.
Hay Vanna, who lives in Japan, apologized to Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet for his role in organizing protests among overseas Cambodian workers in August in Japan, South Korea, Canada and Australia.
The demonstrations "caused chaos" and were "provoked by extremists," such as exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy, Hay Vanna said in the two-minute video posted on Facebook.
“I declare that I am parting from Sam Rainsy,” he said. “I want to use my knowledge that I have to serve the country and I ask Samdech [Hun Sen] to forgive me so I can join the CPP.”
Also on Friday, Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Yi Sokvouch signed a warrant ordering the release of Hay Vanna’s brother – Hay Vannith, who is a health ministry civil servant – from Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison, pending his upcoming trial.
As of early Saturday in Phnom Penh, Hay Vannith was still detained.
Hay Vanna’s apology video was similar to a number of high-profile announcements made by opposition party activists and government critics who switched their allegiances in the months ahead of the July 2023 general election.
The defections often included public apologies and in-person appeals for forgiveness to Hun Sen, who was prime minister at the time.
Protests and angry threats
The August protests were directed at the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area, or CLV, an economic cooperation deal aimed at encouraging trade between the three countries that was forged in 1999.
The CLV became a topic of online discussion in July when three activists, in an 11-minute video posted on Facebook, voiced concerns that it could cause Cambodia to lose territory and natural resources to Vietnam.
Hun Sen ordered the arrests of the three activists and later warned of more arrests. He also threatened Hay Vanna's family in an angry speech that was shown on state-run television.
"This person by the name of Hay Vanna, who lives in Japan, commented on the so-called ceasing of the four Cambodian provinces to others," Hun Sen said.
“But you shouldn’t be confused – you have family members here in Cambodia,” he said. “And they who are living here, must not be arrogant. After hearing his message ... you must stop, or else.”
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Hay Vannith and other relatives worried about their safety for weeks after Hun Sen's threat. But at first, Hay Vannith believed he would be overlooked by authorities because of his lack of involvement in politics, a longtime friend, Chiva Sum, told Radio Free Asia last month.
On Aug. 16, he was arrested in northwestern Cambodia at the busy Poipet border crossing with Thailand. Five days later, a recorded confession was posted on the government spokesperson’s Facebook page.
In the audio clip, Hay Vannith said that his brother instructed him “to carry out a plan to mobilize the people with an intent to overthrow the government and absolutely oppose the CLV through the means of sharing on Facebook and Telegram.”
However, the allegations were “falsified in a political manner,” Chiva Sum told RFA.
‘Warmly welcomed’
Yi Sokvouch, the judge who ordered Hay Vannith’s release on Friday, said he will remain under court supervision. He must respond to all inquiries made by the judge and appear before an investigative judge twice a month, he said.
Hun Sen stepped down as prime minister one month after the 2023 election in favor of his son, Hun Manet. But he retains power as president of the CPP and sometimes serves as acting head of state in his role as Senate president.
“The president of the CPP, Hun Sen, has warmly welcomed Hay Vanna’s apology and his request to join the CPP,” a statement posted on Hun Sen’s Facebook page said.
The statement included a reposting of Hay Vanna’s video and a plea from Hun Sen to other party members to forgive him.
RFA wasn’t able to reach CPP spokesman Sok Eysan for comment on Friday.
Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.