Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced the withdrawal of his country from a development agreement with Vietnam and Laos amidst protests claiming it favored foreign interests.
Social media critics have highlighted concerns over land concessions near the border with Vietnam, a contentious issue due to Cambodia’s historical tensions with its eastern neighbor.
In anticipation of an August protest against the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), authorities detained 66 individuals, with some still facing charges for their involvement.
Established in 2004, the agreement aimed to enhance trade and migration cooperation in northeastern Cambodian provinces and border regions of Laos and Vietnam.
Hun Manet denounced opposition groups as extremists using the issue for political gain, accusing them of spreading misinformation to undermine the government.