This week opposition leader Sam Rainsy was again pursuing another piece in Cambodia’s political game – the international community. While long derided for his devotion to courting Western governments, the last few weeks have seen some pay-off. On Monday, the conservative Australian politician and government whip Phillip Ruddock called Cambodia a “one party state” and expressed concern about the deaths and injuries that resulted from the crackdown. His former colleague from across the political aisle, and one of the architects of the Cambodia’s peace process, Garth Evans, went further in an opinion piece recently, writing: “I know Hun Sen and worked well with him in the past. I have resisted strong public criticism until now, because I thought there was hope for both him and his government. But their behavior has now moved beyond the civilised pale. It is time for Cambodia’s political leaders to be named, shamed, investigated, and sanctioned by the international community.” With options limited at home and this sort of encouragement it’s perhaps unsurprising Sam Rainsy headed to Australia and New Zealand press the opposition’s case.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 07:46:52 +0000
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