Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that Nuon Toeun was arrested by police last Saturday at her employer’s home in Selangor and deported by immigration officers on Monday.
Quoting a Cambodian prisons department spokesman, RFA reported that Nuon Toeun, who is being held at a prison in Phnom Penh, is being charged with “inciting to commit acts that cause serious disturbance to social security and incite discrimination”.
Phil Robertson, the director of the Bangkok-based Asia Human Rights Labour Advocates, said it was “outrageous” that the Malaysian government would deport a foreign national simply for criticising a country’s former ruler.
“Why did a democratically elected government which has said it cares about human rights go along with this? It doesn’t matter where they are, migrant workers have the right to freedom of expression. The Malaysian government is complicit in transnational repression,” he told FMT.
“The appropriate response should have been to thank the Cambodian government, tell it that the worker is in Malaysia legally, and they can do what they want when she returns to Cambodia. But we will not penalise someone for airing their views on Facebook.”
Bangkok-based John Quinley of Fortify Rights also stressed that migrants have the right to free speech, adding that Nuon Toeun’s deportation is a form of transnational repression.
“Refugees and migrants must be protected and the government must ensure they have basic rights, including the right to freedom of expression,” said Quinley.
Adrian Pereira of North-South Initiative said the government should have protected Nuon Toeun’s right to political dissent and freedom of expression by not cooperating with the Cambodian government.
He also expressed surprise that the Cambodian government would take action in response to migrant workers’ criticism, adding that such responses were typically reserved for refugees and activists who opposed it.
The deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Bryony Lau, said the NGO is aware of reports that Malaysian authorities returned Nuon Toeun to Cambodia, and is alarmed by the case.
RFA said Nuon Toeun, who often used social media to criticise Cambodia’s leadership, called Hun Sen “despicable” for having “mistreated my people so badly”.
Hun Sen was Cambodia’s prime minister for four decades until stepping down last year and taking on a role as president of the senate. His son, Hun Manet, is the current prime minister.
While Hun Sen has been recognised for modernising a country recovering from a civil war and genocide, his critics contend that his administration saw the ousting of virtually all political rivals, widespread corruption, and environmental degradation.
When contacted, foreign minister Mohamad Hasan referred queries to the home ministry.
FMT has reached out to home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for comment.