KUALA LUMPUR – A Cambodian human rights group has slammed Putrajaya for reportedly deporting a domestic worker back to Cambodia over her online comments criticising Cambodian government leaders.
In a statement, the Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD) slammed 36-year-old Nuon Toeun’s deportation from Malaysia, pointing out that she was working legally here and had committed no crime except expressing her opinions.
Labelling the issue as an instance of transnational repression perpetrated by the Cambodian government, the group said that Nuon Toeun’s forcible removal from Malaysia back to her home country “without due process” is a blatant violation of international law and a grave assault on human rights.
“Cooperating with the Cambodian regime in its abuse of the legal system to silence critics abroad will ultimately undermine the safety and security of all citizens in the region,” KMD cautioned.
“If left unchecked, these abuses could embolden other authoritarian and undemocratic regimes to engage in similar acts of transnational repression.”
KMD also urged Malaysia and its partners at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council to take immediate action to address the matter, stressing that it is vital for the international community to send a clear message against tolerating human rights violations.
Associated Press reported yesterday that Nuon Toeun, who had worked in Malaysia for several years, was arrested last week by police here following a request from the Cambodian government.
The agency quoted a spokesperson for Cambodia’s prison department as saying that Nuon Toeun was detained at the Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh upon her arrival in Cambodia on Tuesday.
She was then charged with incitement to commit a felony or cause social disorder and incitement to discriminate on the basis of race, religion or nationality. If found guilty on both charges, she faces up to a five year imprisonment term and a fine.
It is understood that a few days before her arrest here, Nuon Toeun posted a video on Facebook in which she said she was “expressing rage on behalf of the people living inside Cambodia.”
“If I have sinned because I (have cursed) this despicable guy, I am happy to accept the sin because he has mistreated my people so badly,” she said, referring to Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen was appointed Cambodia’s prime minister in 1998, going on to hold the post for four decades before he stepped down last year and assumed the role of president of the senate. His son, Hun Manet, is the current prime minister.
The Cambodian government, under the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, has long been accused by certain quarters of silencing critics and political opponents.
Nuon Toeun’s arrest comes after Mech Dara, an award-winning Cambodian journalist whose work exposed corruption, environment destruction and human trafficking, was on September 30 arrested by Cambodian police and charged with incitement to provoke serious social chaos through his social media posts.
A group of 46 Cambodian media and civil society organisations had reportedly called for Mech Dara’s immediate release, saying his arrest “is a clear attempt to intimidate and silence him and other journalists.” – October 4, 2024
