Cambodian PM urges foreign countries not to interfere in internal affairs

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Wednesday urged foreign countries, particularly the United States, not to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

"I have not interfered in your internal affairs, so I suggest that you not interfere in my internal affairs too," the prime minister said in a speech during a university graduation ceremony here.

"As a sovereign state, we urge you to respect Cambodia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," he said. "Cambodia cannot accept any interference from foreign countries."

The prime minister's calls came after the United States issued a statement, expressing strong concerns about the amendments to Cambodia's Law on Political Parties passed by the National Assembly on Monday.

The amended legislation bars convicted politicians from leading a political party and empowers the Supreme Court to dissolve any political party over the conviction of a party top official.

The legal changes also ban political parties from causing secession or incitement, or other activities that could harm national security.

The U.S. statement said the amendments gave the government broad authority to "restrict freedom of expression and the legitimate activities of political parties and, under vaguely defined circumstances, to dissolve them".

In his speech on Wednesday, Hun Sen defended the amendments to the law, saying that the legal changes would "not restrict the freedom of expression, but ensure national unity". Enditem