Thai government applauded for sending KNLF founder to Denmark

Human Rights Watch’s Asia division director Phil Robertson has praised the Thai government’s decision to send the founder of Khmer National Liberation Front Sam Serey to Denmark instead of Cambodia which has asked for his extradition, The Phnom Penh Post Online reported on Saturday (April 28).

“Thailand deserves credit for making the right decision to respect Sam Serey’s continuing refugee status and sending him back to Denmark, the nation that is providing him with refugee protection,” said Phil in a statement.

“Clearly, the Royal Danish Embassy, UN agencies and other like-minded diplomats in Bangkok were very determined in persuading the Thai government to respect Sam Serey’s refugee status and not send him back to Cambodia,” the statement added.

Serey is wanted in Cambodia for allegedly operating a terrorist group and was sentenced in absentia. He was arrested in Bangkok on Wednesday (April 25) for overstaying his visa. He flew out of Bangkok on Friday morning.

On Saturday, Serey posted on his Facebook page that he had arrived in Denmark safely.