TWO Cambodian opposition activists waiting to board a flight to Thailand have been detained in Kuala Lumpur, reports Reuters.

Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Jerald Joseph said the duo, one of whom is an asylum seeker, were arrested on Monday night, and had been due to be deported to their home country the following day.

However, the Home Ministry and Immigration Department have withdrawn the deportation order following an appeal by Suhakam, he said.

He questioned the reason why the order was issued in the first place.

“We are trying to visit them in detention and determine their status. But we are glad that the ministry has chosen not to deport them. I think that’s a good sign,” he was quoted as saying.

Phil Robertson, the Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, said the detainees are members of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), which has been outlawed by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s administration.

He said sending the duo back could put them “at risk of serious human rights violations”.

Global rights group Amnesty International said: “We call on the authorities to immediately release the two opposition activists, and ensure they are not deported back to Cambodia, where they face arbitrary arrest and detention.”

Cambodia has arrested at least 48 opposition activists this year for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government before the planned return from self-exile of Sam Rainsy, founder of the now-dissolved CNRP, on Saturday.

Yesterday, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Cambodian opposition leader will not be allowed to transit through the kingdom in his bid to return to Phnom Penh.

Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail time for convictions that he says are politically motivated, has promised a dramatic homecoming in two days’ time, in conjunction with Cambodia’s Independence Day.

Hun Sen has repeatedly said arrest warrants issued against his arch-rival have been sent to neighbouring countries, and troops have been deployed at the Thai-Cambodian border to stop his return.

Prayut, meanwhile, confirmed that Thai authorities are on the lookout for key Cambodian opposition members. – November 7, 2019.