Sam Rainsy: The Hun Sen government accuses me of staging a "constitutional coup"

Sam Rainsy speaks to reporters.

THE HUN SEN GOVERNMENT ACCUSES ME OF STAGING A "CONSTITUTIONAL COUP"

Following my April 2, 2014 letter to His Majesty the King (see attached article in The Cambodia Daily, April 4, 2014), the Hun Sen government accused me today of staging a "constitutional coup." This is a very serious accusation on the part of the CPP-led government, which could make me liable to a harsh punishment given Cambodia’s politically subservient Court.

Ironically or not, it was me who has been accusing the ruling CPP of staging a constitutional coup following the unconstitutional convening on September 23, 2013 of a one-party National Assembly whereas the Constitution states that Cambodia must follow a political system of liberal and plural democracy. I have also been saying that an unconstitutional Assembly can only produce an unconstitutional and illegal government.

Planning to use their Kangaroo Court again to silence their opponents, the CPP seems determined to punish me because I dare continuously question the legitimacy of the Hun Sen government. But, as always, they are using a very poor pretext not only on the substance but also on the facade because the letter I wrote to the King was a private one, like the countless letters that I used to write to the late and respected King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. Given that the present King has not responded to me yet, it seems most inappropriate on the part of the Hun Sen government to react the way they did to my private letter. We all should first wait for the King’s reaction.

Sam Rainsy

CNRP President