Cambodian police arrest 4 suspects for distributing anti-government pamphlets

English.news.cn   August 17, 2013

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities have arrested four people for producing and distributing hundreds of leaflets, aiming at inciting weapon violence to topple the government, a statement from the spokesman for the National Police said on Saturday.

"The arrest was made on Thursday when the suspects were producing and distributing hundreds of leaflets, appealing to armed forces to use weapons to overthrow the government," said the statement.

"This action is a criminal offence that will be punished based on the Penal Code, and it is not the legal rights and freedom or political activity," it said.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Police has sent the four suspects including two females to the city's court for legal action.

"Making and distributing such leaflets is an intentional activity to create weapon violence and to cause serious social instability; thus, the perpetrators will be punished in accordance with the law in effect," the statement said.

According to the statement, the suspects had given out those pamphlets at the behest of Suon Sereyratha, president of the Khmer People Power Movement, which is a U.S.-based, self-described " civil political movement" against the Cambodian government.

Suon Sereyratha, who is currently living overseas, used to mobilize illegal armed forces and is wanted by Cambodian police for inciting criminal conduct.

Cambodia has been in a political crisis since Monday when the National Election Committee released the initial results of the July 28 election, according to which the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won a majority of vote. However, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party of longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy rejected the results, claiming serious irregularities during the poll.

Soldiers, police and military police with armored vehicles have been deployed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, since last week after the opposition has repeatedly threatened to call mass demonstrations against the election results.