KAMPONG CHHNANG: Speaking at a meeting with nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Chhnang on June 9, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that all those who conspired with Sam Rainsy will be brought to justice because they actively conspired with a convicted criminal.

Although the PM did not use his name, which he very rarely does, he was apparently referring to those abroad who worked with or supported opposition leader Sam Rainsy. He said that they would not be allowed to enter the country and will not receive any pardons.

The PM considers Sam Rainsy to be a very corrupt and incorrigible person. However, he did say that anyone who disavowed Sam Rainsy would be pardoned.

There has been a wave of defectors from Sam Rainsy’s ideology leading up to the July elections. Most recently one of the senior officials of the opposition movement, Ou Chanrith, declared his separation from Sam Rainsy and called on him to surrender to the CPP. He then asked forgiveness from the Prime Minister, for which he was granted a pardon.