Cambodian maid is arrested and deported by Malaysia for criticizing Cambodian leaders on social media

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – A Cambodian woman who worked as a maid in Malaysia was deported to her home country for posting comments on social media criticizing Cambodian government leaders. This is the latest example of a Southeast Asian government helping another government arrest a dissident.

A Cambodian prison official and an opposition activist group said Thursday that 36-year-old Nuon Toeun, who worked in Malaysia for several years, was arrested by Malaysian authorities last week at the request of the Cambodian government.

Human rights groups have criticized several Southeast Asian governments for helping each other harass, detain and deport political dissidents in exile. New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on the Thai government to stop forcing political dissidents to return to their authoritarian homelands such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and China, where they face torture, persecution or death.

Freedom House, a U.S.-based democracy promotion organization, says the practice of attacking or sending back exiled dissidents is “becoming a 'normal' phenomenon as more governments around the world use it to silence dissidents.” .”

Nuth Sovana, a spokeswoman for the Cambodian Prisons Authority, said Nuon Toeun was detained at Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh upon her arrival in Cambodia on Tuesday. She was charged with incitement to commit a crime or cause social unrest and incitement to discriminate based on race, religion or nationality, he said. He was unable to provide details of the crimes she was accused of.

If convicted of both charges, she could face up to five years in prison and a fine.

Malaysian police and immigration officials could not immediately be reached for comment on their deportation.

Nuon Toeun is neither an opposition leader nor a well-known activist. However, the Cambodian government recently expressed concern that foreign critics could mobilize support among Cambodian expatriates.

Nuon Toeun's arrest came shortly after Cambodian investigative reporter Mech Dara, known for exposing online fraud and corruption, was charged with incitement to commit a crime over material he posted on social media.

Radio Free Asia, a U.S. government-funded news service that reports extensively on Cambodia, said Nuon Toeun frequently used social media to criticize Cambodia's leadership, including Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father Hun Sen, the former prime minister, who is now President of the Senate, about her handling of social issues.

The Cambodian government, led by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, has long been accused of silencing critics and political opponents.

Radio Free Asia said Nuon Toeun was a supporter of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party, which was dissolved ahead of the 2018 general election amid a crackdown on the opposition. The Cambodian People's Party subsequently won all seats in the National Assembly.

A few days before her arrest, Nuon Toeun posted a video on Facebook in which she said she was “expressing her anger on behalf of the people living in Cambodia,” Radio Free Asia reported.

“If I have sinned by cursing this despicable guy, I gladly accept the sin because he mistreated my people so badly,” she said, referring to Hun Sen, Radio Free Asia reported.

The Khmer Movement for Democracy, a movement founded by opposition leaders in exile, condemned Nuon Toeun's deportation from Malaysia. A statement said she worked legally in Malaysia and had committed no crime other than expressing her opinions.

It said their deportation without due process was a “flagrant violation of international law and a serious attack on human rights.”

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Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.