At least eight people, including senior government officials, were arrested between 16 and 25 May, reportedly because they were suspected of political opposition to the government Those arrested are suspected of trying to publish the manifesto of a new political party, to be known as the Democratic Freedom Party (Kanapak Sangkum Pracheatipatey Serei). They include: Ung Phan, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications at the time of his arrest; Kan Man, Deputy director of a Foreign Ministry department; Thun Saray, acting director of the Institute of Sociology; Nou Saing Khan, Chief of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Transport; Colonel On Sum from the Defence ministry; Khay Mathury, an architect; Chaktomuk and Baktu, both believed to be lycee headteachers.
