‘Support of CNRP return online will lead to arrest’
AN YONE posting messages supporting the return of Sa m Rainsy, t he “act ing president” of the Supreme C o u r t - d i s s o l v e d C a m b o d i a National Rescue Part y (CNRP), on socia l media will be arrested, t he Ministr y of Interior announced on Tuesday.
Mi n i s t r y s p ok e s ma n K h ie u Sopheak told The Post on Monday t hat aut hor it ies would not on ly a r rest t hose act ively i nvolved i n Ra i nsy’s plot to ret ur n, but a lso t hose showing support for it.
On Tuesday, National Police chief Neth Savoeun held a meeting with a l l depa r t ments under his command to outline measures to counteract moves by a “rebel movement” to topple the government.
“Anyone supporting those who wish to topple t he government . . . we w i l l consider t hat you a l so oppose Ca mbodia’s peace a nd want to bring about unrest and see t hat peace comes to a n end. We will a lso arrest you.
“We will take measures against those posting messages in support of Sam Rainsy’s return. We will find a nd a rrest t hem. Our countr y is enjoying peace, so why would you want to topple the government?
“When [the CNRP leaders] come, we will arrest t hem a ll, including Sam Rainsy, because their actions are illega l,” Sopheak said.
He sa id a ny g roup seek i ng to ha r m Ca mbod i a’s pe a c e a nd development would be stopped by t he aut horities.
“There will not be chaos as we have already arrested the ringleaders. Sam Rainsy did nothing while Kem Sok ha was imprisoned. We have only arrested t he ringleaders who provoke, and this is not millions of people. We look only for the ringleaders,” Sopheak said.
The National Police at a meeting on secur it y a nd public order on Tuesday outlined plans to prevent moves by “rebels” to cause insecur it y a nd topple t he leg it i mate government.
Nat iona l Police chief Savoeun told a round 1,000 of f icia ls who attended that “we all are together in our commitment to protecting the government and not allowing any group or traitor to destroy Cambodia’s happiness and peace”.
Nat i on a l Pol i c e s p ok e s ma n
China, which is leading an aggressive and expansionist policy threatening a number of those neighbouring countries,” Rainsy said.
However, government spokesperson Phay Siphan said countries in the region would cooperate with Cambodia because Rainsy had broken the Kingdom’s laws.
“Sam Rainsy’s case is not politically motivated. It comes from criminal acts. He is not a simple criminal but a terrorist who has incited people to rise up. Doing this is an act of terrorism.
“Asean has signed an agreement to fight terrorism. Therefore, any rejection of cooperation would mean interference into Cambodia’s internal affairs,” Siphan said.
Meanwhile, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued the latest arrest warrant against Rainsy concerning comments deemed to have insulted King Norodom Sihamoni.
Investigating Judge Koy Sao issued the warrant on Monday and ordered police to arrest Rainsy immediately so he could be placed in pre-trial detention.
This was to ensure that he would participate in the court proceedings, Judge Sao said.
Rainsy’s latest charge stems from comments made during an interview with Radio Free Asia last Thursday in which he said the King had been “taken hostage” by Hun Sen and was his “puppet”. He said the King only sought to keep the throne.
Rainsy was sentenced in May to four years for previously violating lese majeste laws.
Ministry of Justice spokesperson Kim Santepheap explained on Tuesday that Rainsy could now face up to 10 years in prison in this latest case.
“According to Articles 83, 88 and 437 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code, the convicted [Rainsy] faces subsequent offences for ‘insulting the King’. Hence the maximum penalty can be doubled from five years to 10 if the court finds him guilty again,” Santepheap said.
Rainsy responded by saying: “I am laughing because we will see this kangaroo court continue to frenetically issue – with no effect whatsoever – more and more unreal arrest warrants against me, given the fact that I have subsequently made similar comments intended to open a democratic debate on the more and more controversial role of the current King.”