Self-exiled Cambodia opposition leader Sam Rainsy had planned to rally with thousands of his supporters to march into Cambodia through the Thai border last Saturday, but his plan faltered after he was barred from flying to Bangkok from Paris.
In an interview with Malaysiakini in Putrajaya he repeated his wish to organise a huge rally of Cambodian exiles and opponents to the regime of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Thai Airways blocked Rainsy from boarding a flight from Paris to Bangkok. He landed in Malaysia this weekend and was given the honour of visiting Parliament.
But Thailand is not opening its doors to the 70-year-old leader.
“On my return to Thailand, even if (Prime Minister) Hun Sen stations rifle-toting men at the border, I will not back down as I have thousands of migrant workers (in Thailand) to walk with me.
“I’m prepared to sacrifice my life. If he shoots us, he will be in trouble and would face the International Criminal Court,” Rainsy said during the interview.
In June, the Cambodian government said it was preparing cases against Sam Rainsy who is also the acting president of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party or CNRP. The plan is to submit the case to the French courts.
News reports said Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sar Kheng were preparing documents to file complaints against the ‘convict’ to the French courts’ to find universal justice for them both.’
The accusation seems to focus on Sam Rainsy’s accusation that Hun Sen killed General Hok Lundy and accused Cambodia’s Minister of Interior Sar Kheng of plotting to overthrow Hun Sen.
In 2017, the courts in Cambodia banned and dissolved the CNRP forcing many of its leaders to go into exile.
In 2018, Hun Sen won the general elections capturing 100% of the National Assembly seats.
Hun Sen promised he will arrest Rainsy and drag him to court if he lands in Cambodia. /TISG