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Cambodia poised to arrest opposition leader; violence feared

In this Aug. 16, 2015, file photo, Sam Rainsy, center, leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), talks to journalists at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy was stripped of his lawmaker status and parliamentary immunity Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, paving the way for his arrest in connection with a defamation case that the opposition says is politically motivated. (Heng Sinith, File/Associated Press)

 By Sopheng Cheang | AP November 16

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy was stripped of his lawmaker status and parliamentary immunity Monday, paving the way for his arrest in connection with a defamation case that the opposition says is politically motivated.

Rainsy, who was on a visit to South Korea, vowed to return to Cambodia as scheduled Monday evening, three days after a court ordered his arrest, raising concerns of political demonstrations that could lead to violence.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court ordered the arrest of Rainsy on Friday in connection with a defamation case brought by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008. In a speech, Rainsy had accused Hor Namhong of colluding with the Khmer Rouge while being held as a prisoner by the radical group.

The court convicted Rainsy in 2013 and sentenced him to two years in jail. Rainsy appealed but lost. The conviction was never enforced and he continued to live freely in Cambodia, serving as the leader of his party in Parliament.

On Monday, amid questions about the legality of arresting a sitting lawmaker, the National Assembly’s standing committee called a special session and emerged with a statement saying it had revoked Rainsy’s special privileges.

“Sam Rainsy has lost his parliamentary privileges, his rights and membership as a lawmaker of the National Assembly,” said the statement from the standing committee, which is dominated by lawmakers from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party.

The prospect of Rainsy’s arrest sparked fears of unrest. The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a security message Monday warning of the “heightened possibility” of protests, particularly near airports in the capital or the city of Siem Reap. It urged citizens to “immediately leave” any area where there are large gatherings.

The 13-member standing committee comprises seven lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and six from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, all of whom boycotted Monday’s special session.

Rainsy’s allies in the opposition party have accused Hun Sen of being behind the move to gain the upper hand in their ongoing political fight.

Rainsy has been engaged in a war of words with Hun Sen. On Thursday, the prime minister called Rainsy the “son of a traitor” after Rainsy said in Tokyo that Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s election victory this month foreshadowed the downfall of Hun Sen.

Opposition lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said the arrest warrant is a “new threat” from Hun Sen and is aimed at forcing Rainsy out of the country to leave the party leaderless ahead of 2017 village elections and 2018 national elections.

“This a politically motivated warrant,” he said. “It is not about exercising the court’s verdict because Sam Rainsy has been living freely (in Cambodia) for nearly three years.”

Eng Chhay Eang questioned why the verdict had not been enforced when Rainsy first returned to Cambodia in 2013 after nearly five years in self-imposed exile.

While Cambodia is formally democratic, the government is notorious for intimidating opponents. Hun Sen, who has been in office for almost three decades, has warned of civil war if the opposition wins the next election, suggesting that his followers would not accept such a result.

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