Foreign Minister Says Cambodia’s Judiciary Is Fair[ly a Political Tool]
Cambodia’s
foreign minister defended the country’s judiciary before a group of
diplomats Thursday, addressing an arrest warrant issued last week for
opposition leader Sam Rainsy.
VOA Khmer | 20 November 2015
PHNOM PENH—Cambodia’s foreign
minister defended the country’s judiciary before a group of diplomats
Thursday, addressing an arrest warrant issued last week for opposition
leader Sam Rainsy.
The arrest warrant has been roundly condemned by the international
community, but in a one-hour meeting with more than 30 diplomats on
Thursday, Hor Namhong said the case had nothing to do with politics, and
the warrant had been made at the request of his lawyer.
“There was no order issued by me or instigation or advice from
anyone, including me and [Prime Minister] Hun Sen, who said that he
didn’t know what my lawyer was doing,” Hor Namhong said.
The warrant was issued shortly after a speech by Hun Sen last week,
lambasting Sam Rainsy, the president of the Cambodia National Rescue
Party, for claiming the ruling party intends to halt elections in 2018.
This meeting comes shortly after a similar meeting with diplomats in
October, where Hor Namhong sought to justify the removal of Kem Sokha
from his seat as vice president of the National Assembly.
Rescue Party spokesman Yem Ponhearith said Hor Namhong should not
disturb diplomats over an individual issue. “Diplomatic officials should
be called for a meeting if the issue is related to national issues or
social issues,” he said.
Sam Rainsy remained in self-imposed exile, for fear of arrest on his return.
Rescue Party officials were scheduled to depart for the Philippines on Thursday to meet with Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha.
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