Sam Rainsy’s return to leadership has foiled Hun Sen’s strategy to destroy the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) from within. Hun Sen was counting on using Kem Sokha as a hostage to destroy the CNRP from within. All kinds of intimidation and psychological pressure were going to be used – not only on Kem Sokha but also on his family and colleagues – to force the CNRP president to himself sign the death warrant of the only opposition party that scares Hun Sen.
For that, all Hun Sen needed to do was to force or manipulate Kem Sokha to distance himself from Sam Rainsy, and/or renounce the reinstatement of the CNRP. He could then take up the leadership of another party, which might already be in existence or might be created. That would have made it easy for Hun Sen to convince the international community to drop the demand for the reinstatement of the CNRP, as it would have died already of its own hand.
Therefore, Sam Rainsy’s return to leadership as acting president of the CNRP until Kem Sokha regains his full liberty and is able to express himself in public, has foiled Hun Sen’s strategy to destroy the CNRP from within. After Sam Rainsy’s return, Hun Sen is no longer able to consolidate his power and ignore the increasing international pressure aimed at reinstating the CNRP and restoring democracy in Cambodia.
Cambodia National Rescue Party