Hun Sen threatens the EU
‘Opposition to suffer if bloc cuts duty-free trading access’
PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to retaliate against the opposition if the European Union withdraws duty-free trading access over human rights concerns.
The EU in November began a formal procedure to strip Cambodia of its Everything but Arms (EBA) status, after Hun Sen returned to power in a July general election in which his party won all of the seats after a crackdown on the opposition.
“If you want the opposition dead, just cut it,” Hun Sen said in a speech at the inauguration of a ring road around the capital city Phnom Penh yesterday, addressing the European Union and referring to Cambodia’s EBA status.
“If you want the opposition alive, don’t do it and come and hold talks together,” he said.
EBA is an initiative aimed at helping poorer countries.
It can be withdrawn in the case of serious violations to human rights conventions.
The EU threatened to withdraw the trade preferences because of a crackdown on the opposition ahead of the July election, which the EU condemned as not being credible.
Hun Sen, 66, who also marked the 34th year of his premiership yesterday, said he would not forgive those who appealed to Western countries to cut aid to press his government, and said critics should get ready to flee abroad.
“People are prepared to flee, be prepared,” Hun Sen said. “I won’t forgive them.”
Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and banned 118 party members in 2017 at the request of the govern- ment after accusations that the party was plotting to take power with the help of the United States.
The party and the United States rejected any such plot.
EU countries took about 40% of Cambodia’s exports in 2016, the bulk from the garment sector that employs about 700,000 people.
EU Ambassador George Edgar and the CNRP did not immediately responded to requests for comments yesterday.
If you want the opposition alive, don’t do it and come and hold talks together.
Hun Sen