US criticizes Cambodia for intimidation ahead of PM's visit

[geovalin]

US criticizes Cambodia for intimidation ahead of PM's visit
MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is criticizing Cambodia's government for threats against the political opposition as the Southeast Asian nation's prime minister prepares to make his first official U.S. visit during 31 years in power.

Prime Minister Hun Sen is set to attend a summit of the leaders of the U.S. and Southeast Asia in California next week.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes expressed concern Thursday over intimidation of opposition lawmakers in Cambodia in recent weeks, and against people planning to protest in the U.S. against Hun Sen's visit.

Human Rights Watch says Hun Sen and his supporters are telling Cambodian-American citizens that if they protest on U.S. soil there will be attacks against the political opposition in Cambodia.

Rhodes said the right to free assembly is protected in the U.S.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-12

[geovalin]

Opposition Steadfast in Face of Possible Retaliation

Khmer Times / By Taing Vida

Thursday, 11 February 2016

270 views

Supporters of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) threatened to hold demonstrations in retaliation to planned protests against Prime Minister Hun Sen during his visit to the United States this month for a US-ASEAN summit, and in response, opposition leader Kem Sokha said the leaders of his party will not flee the country in fear of violence against them.

In a 10-minute video clip posted to Facebook yesterday, two men claiming to represent thousands of young CPP supporters promised to protest against the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying the party had “caused trouble both inside and outside of the country” and was “trying to overthrow the state leader through strikes which damage social security.”

Sang Song, one of the men in the video, reminded CNRP members of the last protest against the opposition, which resulted in two CNRP lawmakers being brutally attacked by a mob of pro-CPP protesters. Mr. Song said that if people protested against the prime minister during his trip to the US, they would demand the immediate dissolution of the CNRP.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21321/opposition-steadfast-in-face-of-possible-retaliation/

[spidermike007]

Hun Sen is a monster. A horrific man. A mass murderer during the Kymer Rouge, who has stolen hundreds of millions during his 30 year reign of terror and oppression. Any opportunity you, I, or the world gets to criticize him is well deserved. He has earned the criticism. He is anything but a democratic leader and a decent man.

[Baerboxer]

Hun Sen is a monster. A horrific man. A mass murderer during the Kymer Rouge, who has stolen hundreds of millions during his 30 year reign of terror and oppression. Any opportunity you, I, or the world gets to criticize him is well deserved. He has earned the criticism. He is anything but a democratic leader and a decent man.

Yep - and we all know who his close mate is. Birds of a feather ..............