KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Human Rights Watch says a leader of a banned Cambodian opposition party has been detained in Malaysia after Cambodia’s government said it won’t allow her and others to return home.
The group’s Asia deputy director Phil Robertson says Mu Sochua, vice-president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was detained by immigration officials upon landing at the Kuala Lumpur airport Wednesday night from Jakarta.
The opposition politicians, led by party leader Sam Rainsy, have planned to return home with followers to spark a popular movement to oust autocratic long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. Their bid hit a roadblock after Thailand barred them from entering.
Robertson called Thursday for Mu Sochua’s immediate release and urged Malaysia not to do Phnom Penh’s “dirty work in cracking down against the CNRP exiles.”
The Associated Press
