CAMBODIA

Three Cambodian refugees deported by Thailand have been jailed on charges of conspiracy and incitement, police said on Monday, as pressure grows on Thailand to protect activists at risk of persecution at home. The pre-trial detention of the three members of the disbanded opposition party comes amid a broad crackdown that started in the run-up to a 2018 general election and has been condemned by the United Nations and the West. Veourn Veasna and Voeung Samnang were registered refugees under UN protection and returned earlier this month. Thavry Lanh (pictured), a former commune chief, was sent back to Cambodia on Nov 20, according to Human Rights Watch. “The ‘swap mart’ arrangement between Cambodian and Thai authoritarians is operating at full speed, running roughshod over refugee protections and rights,” its Asia deputy director Phil Robertson told Reuters. Thailand’s embassy in Phnom Penh declined to comment.