CAMBODIA

Slew of arrests to curb protests over joint Laos and Vietnam development plans

A video of three activists denouncing decades-old land concessions triggered a new crackdown on dissent. Capital armored to prevent demonstrations that exiled opposition leaders had called for Aug. 18. Hun Manet: “We will not tolerate protests against the government like those that took place in Bagladesh.”

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) - The Defense Ministry in Phnom Penh rejoices at the “failure” of the opposition's attempt that “from abroad” had called for protest. But the other side of the coin is the dozens of activists arrested last weekend to prevent any demonstration in the Cambodian capital.

Turning into yet another showdown by Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet against all forms of dissent is the controversy surrounding the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area (CLV), the special economic zone established in 2004 that many Cambodians say is turning into a danger of new despoliation of their lands.

Triggering the clash was an 11-minute video posted on Facebook last month by three Cambodian activists - Srun Srorn, Peng Sophea and San Sith - who were speaking, precisely, about general concerns about the CLV.

In response, Hun Sen himself-now president of the Senate, after handing over leadership of the government to his son Hun Sen last year once he liquidated all opposition in the country-announced in a televised address that he had ordered the arrest of the activists on July 23. And he warned everyone against making comments about the potential loss of Cambodia's territorial integrity to Vietnam.

Hun Manet had then recoiled on Aug. 2, warning Cambodians against the thought that they might carry out protests against the government “similar to those that took place in Bangladesh” (which led to the deposition of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ed.). “I do not want to see this kind of situation happen in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh,” the prime minister said.

The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area is an agreement aimed at encouraging economic development and trade between five border provinces in Vietnam, four provinces in Laos, and Cambodia's four northeastern provinces of Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, and Stung Treng.

The arrangement - strongly desired by Hun Sen - allows the free flow of people for trade and investment. But some Cambodians are concerned that multi-decade concessions of farmland to Vietnamese or Laotian investors will result in a loss of control over large tracts of Cambodian land.

The CLV “is a cover for further illegal deforestation, land evictions and exploitation of natural resources for foreign gains,” wrote exiled opposition leader Mu Sochua on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Demonstrations by exiles in solidarity with the three activists arrested July 23 were held in South Korea, Japan and Australia, with a call for Cambodians to also protest at home on Aug. 18.

It was an invitation that the Phnom Penh government nipped in the bud once again: the Cambojanews website speaks of more than 20 arrests among political figures, human rights activists and young people in the days leading up to the planned August 18 demonstration in Phnom Penh, while strict checks were carried out on travelers entering the capital. Again on Sunday morning, the website reports, police picked up four members of the Khmer Student League Association (KLSA) at their office.

General Chhum Sucheat, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, was thus able to report that there was no sign of any movements or rallies in the country on August 18. “The Cambodian people and youth,” he added, “are not fools; they understand the situation and have chosen not to participate in or support opposition activities.

While from exile Sam Rainsy, one of the opposition's best-known faces commented, “Terrible but familiar overreaction in Cambodia to protests over CLV. The regime would rather imprison innocent citizens than take public responsibility on any issue.”