Washington – The United States expressed concern on Wednesday over the detention of political activists in Cambodia and called on the government to lift restrictions on the opposition.
Cambodian authorities said Monday they had arrested six activists over the weekend for alleged plots to rally in support of former opposition politician Sam Rainsy if he returns from exile as planned in November.The latest arrests bring to 26 the number of activists linked to the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) who have been detained this year.
“The United States is concerned about Cambodian government’s continued political repression of former Cambodia National Rescue Party members, including the recent arrests of several former CNRP activists,” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on Twitter.
