Cambodia Withdraws from CLV-DTA Agreement

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced Cambodia's withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) agreement following protests and criticisms that it favored foreign interests. Critics, particularly concerned about land concessions to Vietnam, sparked significant public outcry and led to the arrest of at least 66 people ahead of a planned protest in August. The agreement, established in 2004, aimed to enhance trade and migration in Cambodia's northeastern provinces and neighboring areas in Laos and Vietnam. Hun Manet accused opposition groups of using the agreement to slander the government and incite public confusion, alleging the cession of Cambodian territory. Protests also took place internationally, reflecting widespread discontent. Cambodia’s government, historically criticized for repressing dissent, made this decision to address territorial concerns and mitigate the influence of what it labeled as extremists.