Published on October 19, 2005

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked Thailand to arrest and extradite two Cambodian activists who fled the country to evade arrest after allegedly defaming him, a Thai security source said.

Men Nath and Ear Channa, who are members of a coalition of unions critical of the Cambodian government, disappeared from Phnom Penh after a fellow activist was jailed on similar charges over the weekend.

The source said the request was made because the two men are wanted for questioning in Cambodia over charges of defamation and inciting others to commit criminal acts.

“The Thai security authorities are checking whether the two men are already on Thai soil,” the source said.

According to the Voice of America radio station, the men had criticised Hun Sen’s signing of a controversial supplementary border agreement with Hanoi last week.

The men, leaders of the Cambodia Watchdog Council of student, teacher, garment factory and civil servant unions, threatened to stage a hunger strike to protest the accord. The council joined a chorus of concern over the loss of Cambodian territory to Vietnam, its former occupier.

Hun Sen promised to sue anyone who accused him of selling Cambodian territory to Vietnam.

VOA quoted Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the legal aid programme Cambodian Defenders’ Project, as saying that the government’s use of defamation lawsuits had created a culture of fear among civic organisations.

“All NGO leaders are very scared now. So it also impacts the right of expression,” he said.

Sok Sam Oeun said some civic leaders had left the country, or are planning to go soon.

Rong Chhun, leader of the Cambodia Watchdog Council and president of a national teacher’s union, was arrested on Saturday as he attempted to cross the border to Thailand. He has been charged with defamation and incitement, and could face up to five years in prison.

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