Six CNRP activists are detained for ‘provoking chaos’
SI X former activ ists for t he Supreme Court dissolvedCambodian National Rescue Part y (CNRP) were placed in pre-t r ia l detention at Prey Sar prison on Monday after the Phnom Penh Municipa l Court charged them wit h “conspiracy and incitement to provoke serious chaos to t he nationa l and socia l securit y”.
General Department of Prisons spokesman Nuth Sav na said t hat Prey Sar prison had received the accused after the court had ordered them to be detained.
“A f ter t he i nvest igat i ng judge decided to deta i n t hem, our pr ison accepted t he order a nd we i mplement it i mmediately,” Savna sa id.
A CNRP statement issued on Saturday a lleged t hat t he aut horities had arrested t he activ ists wit hout a warrant.
It named t he si x detainees as Tum Bunthan, You Chantheany, Ly Lin, Ly Meng Kheang, Yat Phearum and Chhun Thai Yuth.
A detention warrant for Chantheany, 25, obtained by The Post on Monday, said she was charged according to Articles 453, 898 and 495 of the Criminal Code.
The CNRP condemned the arrests, say ing it was a “bruta l act worthy of the Khmer Rouge.”
“The arrest and detention of the CNRP activ ists is a serious v iolation of nationa l and internationa l law, as well as t he Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
“It’s a bruta l act worthy of the Khmer Rouge, who used to capture and k ill innocent people to suppress and intimidate them. We defend t heir right to freedom and demand justice,” t he statement said.
Ministr y of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak defended t he arrests of t he accused as they had wanted to topple the government on behalf of CNRP “acting president” Sam Rainsy.
“[ They] intended to provoke chaos in the event Rainsy returns, he has announced that he will come to Cambodia and topple the government and they supported the person who wished to topple the government.
“They oppose peace and wanted to provoke chaos so t he aut horities arrested them. We cannot allow any person or group to destroy the peace and development that Cambodia is enjoy ing,” Sopheak said.