Ministry opposes EURainsy backing
T HE Mi n i st r y of Foreig n A f f a i r s a nd I nter nat iona l Cooperation has expressed its strong disapproval of a plan by EU parliamentarians to escort Sam Rainsy, the “acting president” of the Supreme Courtdissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), to the Kingdom.
T he mi n i st r y rele a se d a statement on Saturday af ter Rainsy recent ly a nnounced that he would return to Cambodia in September escorted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
“An escaped conv ict, Sa m Rainsy has been charged and sentenced to imprisonment on severa l counts of treason, incitement to commit crimes, i n s u lt i ng K i ng Nor o dom Si ha moni a nd encourag ing the armed forces to disobey orders.
“I n t h i s r e g a r d, i f s uch act ion is t a ken by a sma l l number of MEPs, the Minist r y of Foreig n A f fa i r s a nd I nter nat iona l Cooperat ion wou ld l i ke to e x pre s s i t s strong disappointment.
“We consider t hei r proposed actions as undiplomatic and disrespectful to Cambodia n sovereig nt y a nd t he rule of law of the Kingdom,” t he statement said.
In addit ion, t he minist r y reminded the MEPs of Article 41 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requ i res a l l persons “enjoying such privileges and i mmunit ies to respect t he laws a nd reg ulat ions of t he receiv i ng st ate. T hey a l so have a dut y not to interfere in t he i nter na l a f fa i r s of t hat state”.
The ministry strongly urged the MEPs to reconsider their “i l l-i n for med decision a nd the undiplomatic move”, saying the ministr y had made an unwavering commitment to uphold t he r u le of l aw a nd maintain t he peace, stabilit y and public order the Cambodia n people were cur rent ly enjoy ing.
Mi n ist r y spokesma n Ket
Sophan could not be reached for further comment on Sunday.
However, government spokesman Phay Siphan said: “If the parliamentarians come to Cambodia with the aim of mobilising unrest or inciting riots, we will not allow them in.
“We could take that first action and refuse them entry. The second action would be that, when they enter, we may chase them out – because this is the right, freedom and legality of the Royal Government of Cambodia,” Siphan said.
London-based Liberal International (LI) late last week renewed its call for the Cambodian government to drop the charges against former CNRP president Kem Sokha and other opposition politicians, including Rainsy.
“[LI] expresses its strong support for the escaped CNRP leadership to return to Cambodia in order to seek solutions, the release of Sokha and to restore democracy,” it said.
Kin Phea, the director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, supported the government’s move against the EU parliamentarians, saying they were violating the sovereignty and laws of the Kingdom because Rainsy had been sentenced on many counts by the courts and faced many outstanding legal cases.
“It is a flagrant violation if they come with Sam Rainsy to enter Cambodia. Hence, Cambodia has the right to enforce its laws,” he said.