By: David Hutt -

With only six months until Cambodia’s commune elections, the country’s largest opposition party should be investing all of its efforts into securing as many commune chiefs as possible, establishing momentum ahead of 2018’s general election. Yet it remains engaged in the same internal conflicts and political spats that have plagued it throughout 2016.

In November 2015, Sam Rainsy, the president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), went into self-imposed exile after a warrant was issued for his arrest over defamation charges. In October this year, the government made his exile official by warning airlines that any plane carrying Rainsy would not be permitted to land in the country.

Months after Rainsy went into exile, CNRP vice-president Kem Sokha was forced into hiding in the party’s headquarters after being sentenced to prison for failing to appear at trial after being accused of engaging in prostitution. Meanwhile, several of the party’s MPs have been imprisoned as part of the the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP)’s unrelenting crackdown.

read more http://sea-globe.com/sam-rainsy/

Hun Sen, the despot strongman does not like competition. He has made it nearly impossible to compete against him. The West does nothing, and just stands by, while continuing to shower him with billions in foreign aid. 

Well, Sam "I'm off then" Rainsy does make it easy for Hun Sen to project the more stable if unloved option.

 

What is the West supposed to do exactly here? Hasn't the age of the West meddling in SE Asia long passed? - And good riddance too as that brought mostly blood and tears.