Cambodia - September 2024

Following protests from the Cambodian diaspora, significant dissent expressed on domestic social media, and the threat of domestic protests, the Cambodian government announced its withdrawal from a two-decade old economic agreement with Laos and Vietnam on 20 September. Critics of the agreement, which was intended to foster development in remote border regions, claimed that it had instead surrendered control over Cambodian land and resources to Vietnam and Vietnamese immigrants. This move marks the first time the Hun Manet government made a significant policy change on account of organized public demand. It also marks an about-face from its previous strategy of staunchly defending the agreement in public. The Cambodian government attempted to head off planned domestic protests, arresting at least 94 people in July and August for either publicly criticizing the agreement or allegedly being involved in planning domestic protests, accusing them of being ‘extremists’ planning to overthrow the government.

Sources: Hun Manet (Facebook), The Diplomat, Cambodja News