PHNOM PENH: A group of civil society youths who formerly supported Sam Rainsy are now speaking out against the opposition leader after failing to see any solutions offered by his leadership and coming to believe that Rainsy’s politics only pose a danger to the nation.
The President of the Civil Society Youth Group, Heng Samnang, said during a press conference on Wednesday morning, 26 April 2023, that following Sam Rainsy in the past made them come to realize that the opposition leader’s politics are not fit for the nation and only benefit him alone.
He added that continuing to engage in Sam Rainsy's politics would only lead to his followers’ endangerment, as well as have a harmful impact on Cambodia.
"Some civil society organizations today work for [the greater good] of society, but some of their activities are pushed in support of the opposition to gain an image," he said. "But, contrarily, do these organizations actually receive any benefits? I would say, certainly not. If we join the government, join together in conducting good deeds, then we will not only be protecting ourselves from harm, but conversely, we will also have the attention of our state leaders."
Heng Samnang urged young people to free themselves from Sam Rainsy's political ideology to ensure a peaceful society in Cambodia.
The President of the Khmer Mohanakor Youth Network, Mao Sitha, said he also calls on young people to stop believing in Sam Rainsy and his ‘cronies’, whom he described as ‘politically unscrupulous’ and as people who do not truly love their country.
"Only Pol Pot [can be used as] a comparison to what [Sam Rainsy] did," he said.
ThouVy Sovanndara, the nephew of Kem Ley, a prominent political commentator who was tragically shot and killed in 2016, also joined in the call directed at young people in Cambodia to join the Royal Government in maintaining peace for the nation.
All of these young people are former followers of Sam Rainsy who once protested the Royal Government. They are now announcing their newfound opposition to Sam Rainsy's politics, as well as any other form of politics that aligns with Rainsy’s ideology.
The President of the Civil Society Youth Group said, "I would like to inform the opposition party that if they promote ideals that do not benefit wider society, or advertise fabrications to deceive their supporters, our youth group will respond immediately."
Sam Rainsy was born in 1949 and is the son of Sam Sary and the grandson of Sam Nhean. Sam Rainsy's father, Sam Sary, was considered a major traitor to the nation by former King Norodom Sihanouk's government, after he leaked the Bangkok plan with Sam Sary as a party to act against Cambodia's neutral politics and Plans to overthrow the Sangkum Reas Niyum government. In January 1959, the government of Prince Norodom Sihanouk issued an arrest warrant for Sam Sary and his party, but he has since escaped.
Born in 1949, Sam Rainsy is the son of Sam Sary and the grandson of Sam Nhean. Sam Rainsy's father, Sam Sary, was considered a major traitor to Cambodia by the Sangkum Reastr Niyum government, after the Bangkok Plot against the then Prince Norodom Sihanouk was leaked, revealing Sam Sary’s intension to overthrow the Prince’s government. In January 1959, the government of Prince Norodom Sihanouk issued an arrest warrant for Sam Sary and his party, however he escaped and then later disappeared.
In October 2022, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced an ‘IF’ (‘Isolate’ and ‘Finish’) strategy to dissolve what he called the ideology of “three generations of traitors”, in reference to Sam Rainsy’s family, for the sake of maintaining peace in Cambodia.
