The Appeal Court upheld the conviction of nine people from two activist groups and the disbanded CNRP, who were convicted for incitement for their participation in protests following the arrest of prominent unionist Rong Chhun.
Friday afternoon saw the release of prominent unionist Rong Chhun, Khmer Thavrak’s Chhoeun Daravy and a reduction in sentences for six other activists, who will be released soon.
Unionist Rong Chhun, two CNRP activists and one political party leader had their prison sentences reduced by the Appeal Court Friday morning. All four could be released soon.
At least 373 migrants have been detained in under two weeks during 12 raids on Cambodians crossing into Thailand, a sign of demand for work and confusion over Covid-19 border rules, a labor group said.
Thousands of Cambodians have continued to return to the country in the past three days from Thailand’s major Covid-19 Delta-variant outbreak, as provincial authorities along the border have increasingly locked down markets and villages due to the spread of the new viral strain.
Rong Chhun, a long-time activist and unionist, was sentenced on Wednesday to two years in jail and ordered to pay 400 million riel, or about $100,000, alongside two others at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Cambodian returnees from Thailand have surged since the reopening of borders on Friday, local officials said, with migrants trucked in from checkpoints to expanded quarantine centers.
Hundreds of migrant workers poured back into the country on Friday as its borders to Covid-19-hit Thailand reopened, and the flow is expected to continue in the coming days as many Cambodians face difficulties in the neighboring country.
Border province officials say they have prepared new quarantine facilities as Cambodia is on the cusp of reopening its border to jobless, Covid-wary migrant workers in Thailand.
A prolonged and contentious trial involving unionist Rong Chhun and two others ended on Friday, with a verdict expected on August 18.
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