Sonexay Siphandone (right) and Hun Sen address a press conference in Vientiane on Feb 13, 2023. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that Lao and Thai nationals held in the kingdom’s prisons will be repatriated before the Khmer New Year holiday in April, which coincides with the Lao and Thai New Year celebrations.
PM Hun Sen made the announcement on Feb 13 at a joint press conference with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, during his two-day official visit to Laos, the Phnom Penh Post reported.
Hun Sen said the prisoners would be returned to their home countries through the normal extradition mechanisms.
“I have informed Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone that there is no need to wait for reciprocity. We will return prisoners convicted in Cambodia to Laos to mark the Khmer New Year,” Hun Sen was quoted as saying.
Cambodia will also repatriate Thai prisoners, Hun Sen said.
There are 184 Lao and Thai prisoners in Cambodian prisons to be repatriated, according to the Khmer Times.
In total, there are 75 Lao prisoners being held in Cambodia, 73 of them for drug offences. Just three of them are women, the Phnom Penh Post reported.
Hun Sen urged Minister of Justice Koeut Rith to work with the Minister of Interior Sar Kheng to start the repatriation process as soon as possible, according to the news agency.
“Cambodia is doing this because Cambodia wants to show its spirit as a good neighbour,” Hun Sen was quoted by the Khmer Times as saying.
The Khmer New Year coincides with Sankranta, the traditional New Year in the Buddhist calendar, and is celebrated in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia at the same time. Sankranta is also celebrated in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, parts of northeast India, parts of Vietnam, and Xishuangbanna in China.
Hun Sen came to Laos for a two-day official visit from Feb 13-14 at the invitation of Premier Sonexay Siphandone.
The visit aimed to strengthen the ties and cooperation between the two neighbours.
During their talks, the two prime ministers agreed to work together to enhance bilateral ties for the benefit of their countries and peoples, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement.
The two sides will continue to enhance relations and cooperation in various fields ranging from politics to foreign affairs, national defence and security, economics, trade, investment, connectivity, communication, tourism, education, health, and social and cultural spheres.
The prime ministers signed two documents, namely a treaty on the two countries’ shared border, where demarcation is now 86 percent complete, and an action plan for 2023-2027 to forge a comprehensive and long-term strategic partnership between Laos and Cambodia.
The leaders said they highly valued the growing ties and cooperation between Laos and Cambodia and their citizens, especially the growing pace since the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive and long-term strategic partnership in 2019.
During his visit, Hun Sen called on President Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane.
