Cambodia's Crackdown on Protesters Over Development Pact

Cambodia's leader condemned international human rights groups for criticizing the arrest of nearly 100 people protesting a decades-old regional development agreement with Laos and Vietnam. Human rights organizations decry the arrests and detentions of protesters and activists. Prime Minister Hun Manet defended the crackdown for maintaining social order.

Cambodia's leader on Thursday lashed out at international human rights organizations for their criticism of the arrest of almost 100 individuals who protested against a regional development agreement involving neighboring countries.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch expressed concern last week over what they called arbitrary arrests of at least 94 people who publicly criticized the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) agreement. Among the detained are 59 activists, including children, charged for peaceful protest.

Prime Minister Hun Manet defended the actions, stressing the need to safeguard social order and security. He emphasized the protesters aimed to destabilize the government. Critics have argued the pact favors foreign interests and compromises Cambodian sovereignty. The arrests have sparked reactions internationally, with protests held by expatriate Cambodians in several countries.

(With inputs from agencies.)