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U.S. May Extradite Alleged Cambodian Opposition Leader
by Kazi Mahmood monitoring for IslamOnline
JAKARTA (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Cambodian authorities have requested the extradition of U.S. citizen Chhun Yasith, said to be the leader of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) group which attacked central Phnom Penh on Friday.
The U.S. government is considering the extradition of the alleged leader after Radio Free Asia reported that the CFF claimed responsibility for the gun and grenade attacks, which left eight dead. The CFF said it aimed at destabilizing the Cambodian government.
Seven rebels and one civilian were killed in the attack, with another 11 soldiers injured.
The confession by the group could prove a major embarrassment to the U.S., which strongly condemns international terrorism. The U.S. came under strong criticism from Vietnam and Laos for harboring elements said to be behind destructive pro-democracy groups intent on destabilizing their governments.
In a radio broadcast Saturday, an unnamed CFF representative said: “This is the first test for our fighting forces. There will be more and more attacks in the future. We will not give up.”
The Cambodian government several months ago had asked Washington to extradite Yasith, who is currently living in California, is said to be the leader of the shadowy organization accused of being behind the attacks.
Cambodia does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., but its request is being considered and chances that it will comply with the demands of the Cambodian government has worried other rights group there.
Yasith may be extradited on the grounds that he is a terrorist involved in attacks against another government, officials said. However, they did not say how long it will take for the application for extradition to be completed.
Commenting on the attacks, a U.S. Embassy official in Cambodia said: “Based on what I have seen so far, I would have to call it terrorist activity. People running around town with automatic weapons and grenades - that is terrorist activity. One could not come up with a motive to justify that.”
Phnom Penh has blamed the CFF for anti-government activity, with members operating from out of Thailand and along the border.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who arrived home last night from an informal ASEAN summit in Singapore, renewed calls for Yasith's extradition.
Little is known about Yasith or his fighters. The CFF had earlier promised it would come out of the dark to show its capabilities. Friday’s attack seemed to announce these capabilities, sending tremors throughout the country.
Observers say it also shows that not everything is well in Cambodia since Hun Sen’s takeover. Cambodia is still struggling to overcome economic woes and is still short of foreign investments to boost its finances.
Yasith was a former member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, but was expelled because of his growing frustration with its non-violent approach to dealing with Hun Sen.
The Cambodian Prime Minister has himself survived several attempts on his life, including a bomb attack destroying a car that he was not occupying.
The CFF is believed to be raising money offshore to launch its attacks in Cambodia. It is also said that it recruited impoverished young village boys for Friday’s attack.
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