Cambodia forms committee to arrest opposition leader

Nikkei Asian Review / Kyodo | 16 Nov. 2015

PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) -- The Cambodian government has formed a committee to arrest opposition leader Sam Rainsy for defamation upon his planned return to Cambodia on Monday night.

     The committee comprising 16 generals has been given responsibility to arrest Sam Rainsy and send him to jail and also to secure social order during the operation, according to a decision dated Sunday, signed by Sar Kheng, deputy prime minister and minister of interior, a copy of which was seen Monday.

     Eng Chhay Eang, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, said Sam Rainsy is scheduled to arrive around 11 p.m. [10:20 PM] at Phnom Penh International Airport after traveling to Japan and South Korea with his deputy Kem Sokha.

     A Cambodian court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Sam Rainsy over a defamation and incitement case for which he was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.

     The order was based on a 2011 verdict by the court and later by the Court of Appeals on March 12, 2013, for defamation and incitement to discrimination filed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

     The verdict sentenced Sam Rainsy to two years in prison and fined him 8,000,000 riels (approximately $2,000).

     The order for arrest dated Friday was made one day after Prime Minister Hun Sen warned Sam Rainsy that he may face legal action for "defamation" over his recent comments while he was in Japan.

     Sam Rainsy told reporters then that Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party may seek to avoid any democratic elections in the future and called for international help to not let Hun Sen cancel the upcoming commune and national elections, slated for 2017 and 2018.

     Hun Sen said Sam Rainsy should have clear evidence to back up his allegations or else a criminal case may result for making an accusation without proof.

     However, the order for Sam Rainsy's arrest was made just hours after a lawyer representing Hor Namhong made a request to the court to implement the verdict.