KAMPONG CHHNANG: Prime Minister Hun Sen has shown signs that the Candlelight Party may be forced to dissolve if the party does not clearly take a stand against Sam Rainsy's insults to the King and cut all ties from him. The Prime Minister remarked on this matter during a meeting with flood victims in Kampong Chhnang province on Wednesday morning, 26 October 2022.

For the first time, Prime Minister Hun Sen directly mentioned the name of the Candlelight Party in connection to Sam Rainsy, where in previous days he had only alluded to a party that still maintains its ties with the opposition leader. The Prime Minister announced that he knows this party and this individual are still connected, and said that he had also learnt of a planned meeting between Sam Rainsy and representatives of the Candlelight Party.

“I would also like to inform His Excellency Teav Vannol, His Excellency Son Chhay, and His Excellency Thach Setha that all the tapes are in my hands," said the Prime Minister, calling out senior officials of the Candlelight Party.

"In particular, [I have recordings] of the online meetings in the United States and France with those in Cambodia. Now I know that you are suspecting Top Van Chan, a former senior party official, of recording [these meetings]. You doubt each other, you also doubt your story," he further added.

The Prime Minister reiterated the law on political parties which states that political parties are not allowed to have any contact with prisoners of the country.

"So what you should do is make it clear that Sam Rainsy's claim that the King has no patriotic conscience and that in the past years he had committed treason is an insult to the King," said the Prime Minister, directing his statement at Candlelight Party leaders.

"Is [such insult] appropriate or inappropriate? At this point, I want a guarantee from you [that you are condemning Sam Rainsy's statement], and do not say that this is a threat, you must know that I represent the Royal Government. I must be able to defend the monarchy, and protect the throne. I cannot let you [violate the King]," he added.

This strong reaction from Prime Minister Hun Sen comes after Sam Rainsy, the former president of the Sam Rainsy Party, which then later reformed into the Candlelight Party, recently made comments insulting the King of Cambodia. In a video clip, Sam Rainsy stated that "The King of Cambodia has no national conscience, not even a little bit" and he further accused the King of having signed a royal decree to hand over Cambodian territory to foreigners. The former opposition leader's comments have been met with widespread condemnation from the Royal Government and all ministries and institutions.

^{PHOTO: EAC NEWS}