Monday, January 04, 2010

Cambodian opposition leader to remain abroad until charges dropped

January 4, 2010
ABC Radio Australia

A member of the Cambodian opposition Sam Rainsy Party says the party's leader will not return to the country while charges remain against him. Sam Rainsy has been charged with inciting racial hatred and destruction of property. An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court to hear the charges, which he has described as politically motivated.

Presenter: Bo Hill
Speakers: Hing Yoeun, member, Sam rainsy Party Steering Committee

HILL: The charges Sam Rainsy faces relate to an incident on the Cambodia-Vietnam border in October. He's alleged to have incited racial hatred and destroyed property after border markers were removed. Sam Rainsy party member, Hing Yoeun says the opposition leader was doing nothing wrong.

HING YOUEN: On 25 October 2009, the people in the village run to him and complain to him that the Vietnamese side plan to make a border at their rice fields.

HILL: Sam Rainsy claims he was simply helping the villages in Cok Bahn to save their rice fields, and Hing Yoeun says the party and its leader believe the charges are politically motivated.

HING YOEUN: The judicial system in Cambodia is not justice, it's is only the tool of the government and the ruling party.

HILL: Sam Rainsy is currently in France, having left Cambodia before the court appearance order was issued. He's told Reuters news agency he will let the court prosecute him in absentia because the verdict was already decided. Hing Yoeun says Sam Rainsy will pursue the case through diplomatic means from abroad, rather than through the Cambodia court system. But the incident is already a diplomatic issue. A long-running Cambodia-Vietnam border dispute was laid to rest three years ago when the border was official marked, but there are still localised concerns. Hing Yoeun says Cambodian authorities moved against the opposition leader because of pressure from Vietnam, whose investment dollars Cambodia has tried hard to attract.

HING YOEUN: Yes of course because the prime minister of Vietnam said that Cambodia have to avoid the similar action caused by Sam Rainsy in the future.

HILL: Hing Yoeun has hinted that Sam Rainsy, who was educated in France, will remain in Paris for the foreseeable future, and may seek political asylum there. He also said two locals from Cok Bahn village involved in the border marker incident have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for three others.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

sometimes i wonder what majority of khmer people think about sam rainsy and his opposition system? i'm sure they have dirty opinions about the current cambodian gov't, and so the current cambodian gov't people have the same opinions about the oppositions as well. don't they know that? maybe they just think only about themselves or their side, and not be considerate about the other side's overwhelming opinions about them as well. talk about arrogant, elitist way of thinking. by the way, sometimes, elistists are the dictators, believe it or not! maybe khmer people don't need neither of them. this is where rule of law comes in because law does not discriminate or bias to the public they serve,really!

Anonymous said...

10:51PM, I am not saying I understand your point. But as for me, not belonging to any party, I also oppose the ruling government.

There are countless cases that our citizens land has bee confiscated, human rights have been violated by the the governmnet. Not to mention corruptions and legal organized crimes group.

10:51PM, no doubt the governemnt is working for Viet interest. Open your eyes and ears if you think otherwise.

Anonymous said...

obviously,hun sen is youn 'dog.
i'm not belong to any political party in cambodia.

Anonymous said...

THE TRUTH IS ABOUT TO REVEAL. THIS WILL SHOW HOW IGNORANCE AND STUPID THE SVAY RIENG COURT AND CPP AUTHORITIES ARE. THEY ONLY BARK LIKE DOGS TO PLEASE THE HEAD OF CPP AND YUONS SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR JOB. THIS CAN ALSO SHOW THAT CPP AND SVAY RIENG AUTHORITIES ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO PLEASE AH YUON HANOI, NOT KHMER.

GOOD JOB, SAM RAINSY! YOU HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING. YOUR DEMONSTRATION WILL BE GOING INTO AN ACCOUNT TO SET AN EXAMPLE AND SHOW TO PEOPLE HOW BRAVE AND LOYALTY YOU ARE TO THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE. WELL DONE SIR!

As far as I am concerned, Svar Kimhong should be fired right now, Hun Sen CPP-Hanoi installed government should be kicked out of the office, and His Excellency Sam Rainsy should return to run the country. From this time on, we will not have any one to bow ah yuons any more.

Anonymous said...

Sam Rainsy must stay outside the country.
Radio station is 1000 times stronger.
You need just to say the truth.
Khmers know that CPP is Yuon, now.
Khmers will not vote for Youn anymore.

Anonymous said...

You break the law, you have to answer in court. If you don't show up on the court date, the court in any country will issue a warrant. Calling the Khmer courts as being controlled by the government does not excuse his failing to come before the court and address the charges. If you preach rule of law, then set an example and follow it.

Anonymous said...

The reality is that he already shot himself in the foot because there is news coverage of his removing the border markers, so I can see why he doesn't want to come to the court since he allegedly broke the law and now must face the punishment- which of course he wants to characterize as controlled by the government. This one's a no-brainer- there's a law that makes removing border markers a crime, and the press was there to cover it, so take responsibility for your actions, then you might inspire more people to support you.

Thes Meas said...

The charges of fugitive Sam Rainsy will never drop untill he spend some time in Prey Sar Prision.

measthes@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

AH MEASTHES DON'T YOU EVER STUDIED HISTORY. WHY YOU FUCKIN KEPT SIDE WITH THE ENEMIES ALL THE FUCKIN TIMES STUPID DUMP FUCKER.

Anonymous said...

Please, stop to answer to Thes Meas, he is a Vietnamese.

Anonymous said...

BECAUSE AH THES MEAS IS NOT KHMER, BUT YUON, THUS HE DOESN'T NEED KHMER LAND. HISA REASONING IS FROM THE YUON BRAINASHING.

Anonymous said...

We can't understand Sam Rainsy, his followers shall be mad by his manipulating