
Rong Chhun was arrested earlier this month for allegedly inciting international tensions by taking up the matter of loss of land of farmers in the border regions after 2012 demarcation

The warrants were issued against leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, including its acting president Sam Rainsy. The leaders were planning to return to Cambodia and resume political work.

A powerful workers’ movement has been building up in the sector since the protests of 2013-2014 over poor working conditions, human rights violations, delay in payment of wages and other indemnities.

95 civil society groups signed a joint statement in support of the leaders. The six unionists were sentenced to suspended jail terms and fined by a municipal court in Phnom Penh