Cambodia tells U.S. to stop interfering in its internal affairs

Cambodia on Wednesday asked the United States to stop interfering in its internal affairs.

"We call on the U.S. Administration to respect international principle of non-interference and national sovereignty and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Cambodia," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The statement said that Cambodia's democracy is based on the will of Cambodian people and not on the preferences of any foreign government.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia cannot accept any interference nor any intrusion into its domestic affairs, under any direct and indirect forms or pretenses and it shall take all relevant and necessary measures to bring an end to such interferences and any other act that runs counter to the Cambodian Constitution and laws," it said.

The statement came after the U.S. 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 a speech at a university graduation ceremony here on Wednesday morning, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen also slammed the U.S. for interfering in the country's internal affairs and said the legal changes would "not restrict the freedom of expression, but ensure national unity." Endit