Cambodian court orders to detain 6 men on terrorism charges

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has ordered the detention of six Cambodians after charging them on Tuesday with conspiring to commit acts of terrorism during this weekend's Water Festival, local media reported on Thursday.

Municipal Court's Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun and Investigating Judge Chang Sinan confirmed the detentions on Wednesday but refused to disclose any further details, said the Cambodian Daily.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak told reporters that "their aim was to cause explosions during the Water Festival. They are an anarchist group and terrorists."

The men were smooth criminals and once jailed for stealing cows and buffaloes, he added.

Police began to arrest them on Oct. 24 in Svay Rieng, Siam Reap and Prey Veng provinces and the investigation was going on, he said, adding that their identities and the conspiracy details could not be told yet.

The Water Festival from Nov. 4 to 6 is the most important festival for the Cambodians. Tens of thousands of Cambodians are expected to rush from other provinces into the capital to join the congratulations. The government has deployed altogether 4,000 policemen and armed forces to ensure the order during the festival.

Source: Xinhua