US to impose visa restrictions on Cambodia over Phnom Penh's refusal to accept criminal deportees
Published 1 hour ago [25 August 2017]

PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network) - The United States is set to impose visa sanctions on Cambodia, reportedly in response to Cambodia's freeze on acceptance of deportees with criminal convictions in the US.

The sanctions were brought against four countries, with sources identifying Cambodia as one of the nations that would be hit by the visa ban, the Washington Times reported on Tuesday (Aug 22).

A US official, who asked to remain anonymous, said on Thursday that the details of the visa suspension would not be available until after the US authorities have spoken with their Cambodian counterparts.
The official suggested, however, that it was unlikely all US visas would be halted for all Cambodians.

The news comes in the wake of the revelation earlier this month - first reported by the Cambodia Daily and later confirmed by non-governmental organisations that work with deportees - that the Cambodian government had, since October last year, temporarily halted issuing travel documents to convicted felons the US wanted to deport.

Several officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday could not be reached, but government spokesman Phay Siphan - a dual US-Cambodian citizen - said the move from the US was "shameful"...
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asi ... t-criminal