The family of jailed Sam Rainsy Party activist Sok Yoeun has been moved by the UN to Finland after they fled Cambodia for Thailand several months ago, party officials said.
Sok Yoeun, who is jailed in Thailand, has been accused by Cambodian authorities of taking part in the 1998 Siem Reap rocket attack that the government claims was an attempt on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s life.
Since his arrest last year for illegally crossing into Thailand, the Battambang province man has become the focus of an extradition attempt by the government, which wants him to stand trial in Cambodia.
Sam Rainsy Party officials have opposed the extradition, saying Sok Yoeun’s life would be in danger if he were returned to Cambodia.
Sok Yoeun has been granted special status by the human rights arm of the UN and Sam Rainsy Party leaders see his family’s move to Europe a week ago as an encouraging sign the UN will continue to also protect Sok Yoeun, party cabinet chief Phi Thach said.
Party officials said the investigation of Sok Yoeun is merely an attempt to intimidate party members.
The arrests of two other Sam Rainsy Party members and the manhunt for Sok Yoeun last year all but destroyed the party’s presence in Battambang province.
The other two party members have since been released from Phnom Penh’s military prison.
