Phnom Penh: A video of Prime Minister Hun Sen speaking to former Cambodia National Rescue Party members online has leaked in social media. The Prime Minister was telling the former opposition members to stop insulting and making propaganda against the government. The zoom group meeting was led by the former CNRP Members of the Parliament, Long Ry.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has informed the group that he knew everything about their plan. He says, “If you want to come back to Cambodia and unite with us, then stop insulting the government. Stop making propaganda.” The Prime Minister has urged them to stop politicising the government’s movement. He says, “You insult too much. When are your propagandas will end? Now, you want to return to the country and unite.”

Long Ry has defended his group saying that their leaders had never insulted and made any political propaganda against the government. Instead, he blamed his subordinates and other members. He says, “It’s very difficult to control people. It is not as easy as controlling a machinery. When we try to control the west, then something comes from the east. We also understand what virtue is, what value is and we never manipulated the mindset of the Cambodian people.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen has emphasised that what happened are mistakes of the weak leaders in managing their people. He says, “You are leaders; yet, you cannot control your people. It’s not about weakness, but it is a virtue - a human morality. And I think now, those who are here in this meeting will be able to understand”.

After the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP on 16 November 2017, a series of opposition leaders fled abroad to form movements and other activities against the Cambodian government. Some of them were indicted in court. They continue to monitor the government’s movement through its network in the country. This has pushed the Cambodian government to take a series of preventive measures aiming to maintain stability.