Saturday, February 4, 2023
Khmer Daily Cambodia News
34 °c
Phnom Penh
  • LATEST
  • CAMBODIA
  • ASIA
    • JAPAN
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • TAIWAN
  • WORLD
    • CHINA
    • RUSSIA
  • BUSINESS CAMBODIA
  • TECHNOLOGY
No Result
View All Result
  • LATEST
  • CAMBODIA
  • ASIA
    • JAPAN
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • TAIWAN
  • WORLD
    • CHINA
    • RUSSIA
  • BUSINESS CAMBODIA
  • TECHNOLOGY
No Result
View All Result
The Khmer Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home ASIA Cambodia

Facing arrest, Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy will get home come what may

June 3, 2021
in Cambodia, Politics
0
Facing arrest, Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy will get home come what may
0
SHARES
28
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

PHNOM PENH/PARIS (Reuters) – Self-exiled Cambodian opposition party founder Sam Rainsy said on Wednesday he would not be deterred by efforts to prevent his return home “to be with my people”.

Rainsy is set to fly to Bangkok from his Paris base on Thursday and has said he will be in Cambodia by Saturday. He could face arrest amid a crackdown at home on members of his banned party and Malaysia’s detention of two party activists also trying to return.

Thai authorities say he will not be allowed to transit their territory.

Rainsy, a former finance minister, has vowed to return to lead demonstrations against the one-party rule of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen, whom he called “a brutal dictator”.

“The repression has never been so severe,” Rainsy told Reuters in an interview in Paris. “The popular discontent has never been so strong so it’s the right time to create an event that will trigger a democratic change.

“I have to go back, return to my country because I want to be near my people, be with my people to lead them to fight for a better life,” he said.

Rainsy on Wednesday tweeted a photo of his airline ticket from Paris to Bangkok, from where he would travel to Thailand’s border crossing with Cambodia. Hun Sen has ordered airlines not to allow him to board flights into Phnom Penh.

His return could be thwarted by Thailand, whose prime minister said on Wednesday he would not be allowed entry en route to Cambodia.

“I hope there can be some arrangements, but if not, I will find some other ways and means to go back to my country,” Rainsy said. “If I cannot go to Bangkok I will board another plane for Kuala Lumpur, Jakarata or Singapore. Wherever I can go and where I can gather people to go with me.”

HOUSE ARREST

Hun Sen has accused the opposition of fomenting a coup, and his government has arrested at least 48 activists with Rainsy’s banned opposition party this year. The party’s last leader remains under house arrest on treason charges.

Rainsy fled to France four years ago following a conviction for criminal defamation. He also faces a five-year prison sentence in a separate case.

He denies wrongdoing and says the charges were politically motivated.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he could not allow interference into the internal affairs of Cambodia, a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“According to our commitment to ASEAN, we will not allow an anti-government person to use Thailand for activism,” Prayuth told reporters when asked about Rainsy.

“I have ordered this, so he probably won’t get in.”

Thailand last week turned away Mu Sochua, the CNRP’s vice president, when she flew into Bangkok’s main international airport.

Mu Sochua later flew to Indonesia, where the Cambodian embassy on Wednesday requested she be arrested after she attempted to hold a news conference.

Dozens of other opposition activists who fled Cambodia fearing arrest have vowed to return in support of Rainsy.

“There are only three possibilities about the fate of a political leader in Cambodia. Either they are killed, arrested and put in jail or forced into exile, but this time enough is enough,” Rainsy said.

“Life is not that long in front of me and I want the young people to enjoy a better life and I am determined to sacrifice my freedom and my life for democracy.”

This article was first published by Reuters. All images are copyright to their respective owners.

Source: REUTERS
Tags: Cambodian opposition partyRainsySam Rainsy
Previous Post

Angelina Jolie REVEALS her Cambodian citizenship and home in Cambodia

Next Post

With a Smile, Southeast Asian Nations Protect an Authoritarian

Related Posts

Cambodia confirms readiness to exit the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status

Cambodia confirms readiness to exit the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status

by Khmer Times
February 3, 2023
0
4

Cambodia confirmed its readiness to exit the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status, saying that studies on the impacts of the...

Cambodia cashew production likely to touch 1 million tons this year

Cambodia cashew production likely to touch 1 million tons this year

by Khmer Times
January 31, 2023
0
9

The cashew season has begun with the start of picking cashew nuts in the Kingdom, and growers of the commodity...

Cambodia GDP expects to growth 5.6 percent in 2023

Cambodia GDP expects to growth 5.6 percent in 2023

by Khmer Times
January 26, 2023
0
3

Cambodia is expected to register a 5.6 percent GDP growth in 2023, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance....

Most Popular

Passenger in Nepal plane crash livestreams last seconds of his life on Facebook

Passenger in Nepal plane crash livestreams last seconds of his life on Facebook

January 18, 2023
31
Nepal plane crash searchers rappel, fly drones to find last passengers

Nepal plane crash searchers rappel, fly drones to find last passengers

January 18, 2023
26
Prince William feared Prince Harry was being ‘brainwashed’ by his therapist

Prince William feared Prince Harry was being ‘brainwashed’ by his therapist

January 9, 2023
17
California doctor who drove Tesla off cliff to be charged with attempted murder

California doctor who drove Tesla off cliff to be charged with attempted murder

January 6, 2023
16
Japanese firm to study urban, provincial railways in Cambodia

Japanese firm to study urban, provincial railways in Cambodia

January 11, 2023
16
UK paper group bids to throw out Prince Harry and others’ privacy lawsuits

UK paper group bids to throw out Prince Harry and others’ privacy lawsuits

January 14, 2023
15

© 2020 By Khmer Daily News

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Cambodia
  • ASIA
  • World
  • Business
  • Tech

© 2019 The Khmer Daily.

error: Content is protected !!