Cambodia: 27 activists freed ahead of Asia-Europe summit

Cambodian union leader Rong Chhun leaving the Prey Sar prion in Pnhom Penh on November 12, 2021. © AFP - TANG CHHIN Sothy

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2 min

Rare gesture in the "kingdom of a million elephants": 27 opponents and human rights activists have been released in recent days, including a figure from the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions.

A moment very chosen by the Cambodian authorities, because the country is hosting the virtual Asia-Europe summit next week.

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According to the Cambodian authorities, this has nothing to do with it.

This is not any pressure, assures the spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice.

Whether the prisoners are activists or not, the courts, he says, make no difference.

But this speech, no one believes it.

Because within the Asia-Europe forum, the 27 representatives of the European Union are very critical of Phnom Penh's repressive policy.

Not to mention that Cambodia will take the rotating presidency of ASEAN, the association of Southeast Asian countries, next year.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been locking his country for more than 35 years, has clearly understood that he has to keep up appearances.

Because ASEAN, renowned for its passivity, has suddenly woken up in recent months.

The head of the Burmese junta paid the price at the end of October: excluded from the regional summit because of his slowness in re-establishing dialogue with the opposition in Burma.

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60 political prisoners

Cambodia undoubtedly tries to be conciliatory with certain defenders of the human rights not to create diplomatic incident.

But we are still far from the mark.

At least 60 political prisoners remain in Cambodian jails, according to Human Rights Watch.

In addition, the crackdown has worsened since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic serves as a screen for the implementation of new arbitrary measures.

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• Cambodia

• Hun Sen

• Human rights

• ASEAN