Cambodia slams US for sanctions on PM's bodyguard chief

Cambodia on Wednesday criticised the US for imposing sanctions on General Hing Bun Heang, commander of the country's Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit, for alleged human rights abuses.

"The Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Cambodia condemns the US' measure, which was taken groundlessly on His Excellency Hing Bun Heang, who is a strict law enforcer and dignified obligor in safeguarding Cambodia's stability and social order," the Cabinet said in a statement cited by Xinhua news agency.

"What the US did is the violation of sovereignty of an independent country," it said. "The Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Cambodia openly criticises this unreasonable, violable, and shameless measure of the US."

Another statement issued by the Ministry of Defence called the US' sanctions "unacceptable and a flagrant violation of law" in Cambodia.

"The Ministry of Defence of Cambodia urges the US Treasury Department to immediately stop imposing sanctions on any Cambodian senior military officials without clear grounds," the statement said.

The reaction came after the US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned Bun Heang for "being the leader of an entity involved in serious human rights abuse".

--IANS

soni/bg