Cambodia Exits Trilateral Pact with Vietnam and Laos: PM Hun Manet Addresses Protests and Sovereignty Concerns
Cambodia Withdraws from Trilateral Development Agreement Amid Protests
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced the country’s withdrawal from a long-standing development agreement with Vietnam and Laos. The decision comes in response to widespread protests claiming the agreement disproportionately benefits foreign interests.
The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), formalized in 2004, aimed to foster cooperation on trade and migration across four northeastern provinces of Cambodia and adjacent border areas in Laos and Vietnam. However, the agreement has faced increasing scrutiny in recent months, particularly on social media, where critics have raised concerns about land concessions in border regions, especially those involving Vietnam.
The historical tensions between Cambodia and Vietnam have amplified the sensitivity surrounding the agreement. In the lead-up to an August rally against the CLV-DTA, authorities arrested at least 66 individuals. While most detainees were subsequently released, protest leaders still face charges.
Prime Minister Hun Manet, addressing the situation, labeled opposition groups as extremists, accusing them of slandering the government and misleading the public. He vehemently denied allegations that the agreement involved ceding territory to foreign countries.
Justifying the withdrawal, Hun Manet cited significant achievements in the development of the four provinces over the past 25 years. He emphasized that the decision was made to address public concerns regarding territorial integrity and to prevent extremist groups from exploiting the CLV-DTA issue for their own agenda.
The move comes amid a political climate where the Cambodian government has faced accusations of silencing critics and political opponents. Hun Manet, who recently succeeded his father Hun Sen after four decades of rule, has shown little indication of political liberalization under his new leadership.
As Cambodia navigates this diplomatic shift, the implications for regional cooperation and economic development in the affected areas remain to be seen.
