Three CNRP Youth leaders were arrested Saturday and taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, where one refused to answer questions and was transferred to Prey Sar prison, police and party officials said.
“The warrant was to arrest three people. We follow the orders of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” said Chuon Narin, deputy Phnom Penh police chief.
Mr. Narin declined to provide further details of the arrest warrants.
Morn Phalla, chairman of the CNRP’s Phnom Penh executive committee, said that Khin Chamrouen, 32, head of the CNRP’s Phnom Penh Youth, was arrested at about 7:30 a.m. in Kandal province’s Takhmao City by provincial police.
Mr. Chamrouen was then transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, according to Mr. Phalla.
“They took him to the court but he did not answer the questions, so he was taken to Prey Sar prison,” Mr. Phalla said.
Around 1 p.m., Phnom Penh police arrested Neang Sokhun, 28, a CNRP Youth leader for Tuol Kok district, according to Mr. Phalla. And shortly before 3 p.m., municipal police arrested San Kimheng, 28, the treasurer for the CNRP Youth in Meanchey district. Mr. Sokhun was arrested in Chbar Ampov district and Mr. Kimheng was arrested in Tuol Kok, Mr. Phalla said.
“The two are being questioned at Phnom Penh Municipal Court now,” he said at 4:30 p.m.
Mr. Phalla said that all three men arrested were present at Freedom Park on July 15, when an opposition demonstration turned violent, leading to the arrest of seven elected CNRP lawmakers and a party official.
The group of eight was charged with leading an insurrection and incitement to commit a felony. They were released on bail on July 22, hours after opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen struck a deal to end the CNRP’s almost yearlong boycott of parliament.
However, the seven elected lawmakers, along with CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha, have since been summoned to appear before the municipal court on August 11 for questioning.
