Six Swedish parliamentarians urged Prime Minister Hun Sen in an open letter to allow acting opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other top party officials to return to Cambodia “without harassment or repercussions of any kind.”
The daughter of detained opposition party president Kem Sokha, who is also a spokesperson for his outlawed Cambodia National Rescue Party, called exiled party leader Sam Rainsy’s promise to return to Cambodia next month a mere “PR stunt.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday ordered the deployment of the country’s armed forces ahead of exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s promised return on November 9.
Anyone who has “unintentionally” become involved in exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s planned homecoming next month can confess and be spared punishment, Prime Minister Hun Sen said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son, Hun Manet, has proposed a wager with exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy after Rainsy called Manet’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point a “second-class diploma.”
A former opposition commune chief’s arm was broken on Wednesday by unidentified, baton-wielding attackers in the second daylight assault of a CNRP supporter in Phnom Penh this week.
After almost 30 detentions and more than 150 summonses of opposition members and supporters this year, politicians and analysts are drumming up debate over the dangers facing the country.
National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun on Tuesday ordered police chiefs from across the country to be ready to prevent any attempt by the political opposition to overthrow the government, and maintain security on the upcoming Pchum Ben Day, a police spokesman said.
Another six former members of the outlawed opposition were arrested this weekend — at least two for plotting and incitement to commit a felony — while Interior Minister Sar Kheng has allegedly ordered authorities to monitor CNRP supporters gathering at pagodas over the current Pchum Ben festival.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked Laos, Thailand and other Southeast Asian governments to assist Cambodia in preventing Sam Rainsy from freely returning to the country, as the exiled opposition leader has vowed to do in November.
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