A Cambodian Buddhist monk and outspoken critic of his country's authoritarian has been released after two days in Thai custody and is seeking asylum in \u201cany democratic country\u201d that will take him, he told RFA on Friday.<\/p>\n
Ven. Bor Bet had taken refuge in Thailand in\u00a0November 2020\u00a0to avoid arrest for joining protests in Phnom Penh demanding the release of a jailed labor union leader.<\/p>\n
He was arrested Wednesday night at a temple in Samut Prakan south of Bangkok and transferred to an immigration detention center, sparking fears he would be deported to Cambodia and join the score of political prisoners put behind bars in Hun Sen\u2019s four-year crackdown on opponents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told my lawyer that with the current situation, I must decide to live in a third country because it is not safe in Thailand,\u201d he told RFA\u2019s Khmer Service Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will live in any democratic country. I am deciding right now, but I will go to the country that selects me first,\u201d the monk added, mentioning Switzerland as one candidate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe monk was granted bail and released at 2 p.m. today. He is currently in Bangkok,\u201d said Siripa Intavichein, the deputy spokeswoman for Thailand\u2019s Democrat Party and for the Thai parliamentary committee on torture and enforced disappearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next step is the UNHCR, Human Rights Watch and other organizations to deal with foreign embassies to find for him third-country asylum. Many countries are offering him refuge,\u201d she told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news agency.<\/p>\n
While initial reports said he had been defrocked as a Buddhist monk, Bor Bet said he was retained his Buddhist monk robe.<\/p>\n
\u201cGranting bail to Ven. Bor Bet is a good move by Thailand that reflects that calmer, more reasonable approaches are being considered,\u201d said Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia division of New York-based Human Rights Watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the reality is he's not safe in Thailand, so he needs to be allowed to resettle to a third country as quickly as possible,\" he told BenarNews.<\/p>\n
Bor Bet\u2019s detention Wednesday in Samut Prakan province, south of Bangkok, follows Thailand\u2019s arrest and quick deportation to Cambodia of four other activists affiliated with Cambodia National Rescue Party, which Hun Sen had banned in 2017.<\/p>\n
Mich Heang, a member of the CNRP who was arrested in Thailand on Nov. 20 and delivered the next day to Cambodia and is under interrogation at the Interior Ministry\u2019s National Police Commissariat General on charges of conspiracy for posting social media messages critical of Hun Sen, RFA reported Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Mich Heang\u2019s arrest and deportation from Thailand followed those earlier in November of Cambodian activists Voeun Veasna, Voeung Samnang and Lahn Thavry.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoing something right in one case doesn't absolve Thailand of the horrendous damage they have caused to the three refugees sent back earlier this month who are now in Cambodian prisons,\u201d said HRW\u2019s Robertson.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt's time for Thailand to end its 'swap mart' arrangements with neighbors, and truly respect refugees' rights,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Reported by RFA\u2019s Khmer Service and BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news agency. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Paul Eckert and Roseanne Gerin. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n
\r\nThis content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia<\/a> and was authored by Radio Free Asia.
<\/p>\n