Six former activists for the Supreme Court dissolved-Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) were placed in pre-trial detention at Prey Sar prison on Monday after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged them with “conspiracy and incitement to provoke serious chaos to the national and social security”.

General Department of Prisons spokesman Nuth Savna said that Prey Sar prison had received the accused after the court had ordered them to be detained.

“After the investigating judge decided to detain them, our prison accepted the order and we implement it immediately,” Savna said.

A CNRP statement issued on Saturday alleged that the authorities had arrested the activists without a warrant.

It named the six detainees as Tum Bunthan, You Chantheany, Ly Lin, Ly Meng Kheang, Yat Phearum and Chhun Thai Yuth.

A detention warrant for Chantheany, 25, obtained by The Post on Monday, said she was charged according to Articles 453, 898 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

The CNRP condemned the arrests, saying it was a “brutal act worthy of the Khmer Rouge.”

“The arrest and detention of the CNRP activists is a serious violation of national and international law, as well as the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“It’s a brutal act worthy of the Khmer Rouge, who used to capture and kill innocent people to suppress and intimidate them. We defend their right to freedom and demand justice,” the statement said.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak defended the arrests of the accused as they had wanted to topple the government on behalf of CNRP “acting president” Sam Rainsy.

“[They] intended to provoke chaos in the event Rainsy returns, he has announced that he will come to Cambodia and topple the government and they supported the person who wished to topple the government.

“They oppose peace and wanted to provoke chaos so the authorities arrested them. We cannot allow any person or group to destroy the peace and development that Cambodia is enjoying,” Sopheak said.