Hun Sen and Rainsy continue 'honeymoon' in Malaysia
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy yesterday announced he would be
taking a weekend jaunt to Malaysia with Prime Minister Hun Sen to spread
the gospel of the “culture of dialogue”, days after facing accusations
that pair’s recent friendliness amounted to a “honeymoon”.
In a special reception in Kuala Lumpur today, Hun Sen and Rainsy are
scheduled to meet with Cambodian workers in the country to spread their
message of cooperation by discussing national unity and their mutual
respect for one another.
“It is our hope to see this culture of dialogue also prevail in all
friendly countries as evidence of a mature democracy,” Rainsy said in an
email.
The appearance comes just two weeks after Hun Sen and Rainsy rang in
the New Year together in Siem Reap, after which Rainsy was forced to
reject criticism that the friendliness with his political foe was
compromising his opposition party’s integrity.
Speaking yesterday, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said Rainsy was in
Kuala Lumpur for an event by the Council of Asian Liberal Democrats,
while Hun Sen was attending the 26th Asean Summit, but both would seize
the opportunity to display their unity.
Observers, however, have noted that while Rainsy has enjoyed recent
close ties with the Prime Minister, CNRP deputy president Kem Sokha, who
earlier this month faced grilling at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court
over his role in opposition protests, has been snubbed.
An independent political analyst, who declined to be named citing
sensitivity surrounding the subject, said both sides harboured divergent
agendas.
He said the CPP and Hun Sen were working to split the leaders of the
opposition, while Rainsy was biding his time with the “soft game” until
party leaders were prepared for the next election drive.
“For the time being, I think that everybody [will] play the soft game
but it’s very short lived. In the next few months they will have to go
back to the real game, one against the other,” he said.
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