Sat Sep 21 11:42:26 UTC 2024: ## Cambodia Pulls Out of Development Agreement with Vietnam and Laos Amidst Protests

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced the country’s withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) agreement, citing public concerns over alleged land concessions to foreign interests. The decision comes after a wave of protests against the agreement, which critics claim benefits Vietnam in particular, a highly sensitive issue given Cambodia’s historical relationship with its neighbor.

The CLV-DTA, formalized in 2004, aimed to promote cooperation on trade and migration in four northeastern Cambodian provinces bordering Laos and Vietnam. However, social media campaigns have focused on land concessions in these border areas, particularly with Vietnam, leading to widespread public outcry.

Ahead of a planned August rally against the agreement, authorities arrested at least 66 people, most of whom were later released. However, some leaders face charges.

Prime Minister Hun Manet, who succeeded his father Hun Sen last year after four decades of rule, described those opposing the agreement as “extremists” and accused them of using the issue to slander the government. He dismissed claims that Cambodia had ceded territory to foreign countries, asserting that the country has made significant developmental achievements in the four northeastern provinces over the past 25 years.

However, the decision to withdraw from the CLV-DTA suggests a growing sensitivity to public sentiment and the government’s willingness to address concerns surrounding land concessions, particularly with Vietnam. The move comes as a potential indicator of a shifting political landscape in Cambodia, despite the lack of significant political liberalization since Hun Manet assumed power.

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