Cambodia’s Defense Minister Orders Armed Forces to ‘Suppress’ Return of Opposition Leaders

Cambodia’s Minister of Defense Tea Banh on Monday ordered the armed forces to cooperate with all state institutions and local authorities in defending the country against the leaders of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), ahead of their planned return from exile next month.

Speaking at an event in the capital Phnom Penh to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Brigade 70, Tea Banh said that acting CNRP President Sam Rainsy and other senior party officials had “crossed a red line” by “calling for a coup d’etat” against Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government, and ordered their suppression, along with that of their supporters.

“We cannot tolerate these people [CNRP leaders and supporters] and allow them to live in peace,” he said, calling for “effective cooperation” and the use of “all measures” to stop them from returning to Cambodia.

In full: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/order-10142019172843.html

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