PHNOM PENH, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday hit back at the United States for imposing sanctions on its senior official and businessman, saying that the U.S. is seriously violating the international principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states.
Cambodia expressed its strong dismay over the arbitrary designation of Cambodian nationals working in both public and private sectors under the Global Magnitsky Act, said a Cambodian foreign ministry's statement.
"It is very disturbing when public figures of a country have become subjects of punitive measures of another country based on groundless accounts and accusations in total disregard of the legal and judicial independence of the country," the statement said.
"This is a serious violation of the international principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as well as other international laws," it added.
The statement said the sanctions were an ambush against the ongoing efforts to restore trust and confidence between the two countries.
It said Kun Kim is well-known for his great contribution to the protection and the maintenance of peace, stability and social order, while Try Pheap has played an active role in supporting Cambodia's socio-economic development.
The statement came a day after the U.S. Treasury said it had sanctioned Kun Kim, former joint chief of staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and influential tycoon Try Pheap, accusing them of corruption.
