Sam Rainsy is scheduled to leave Bangkok today for a tour of the US and Europe to bring attention to Cambodian democratic reforms, a Cabinet aide said Wednesday.
Additionally, in an interview published Wednesday in the Thai daily The Nation, Sam Rainsy signaled that the alliance between Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy Party had weakened.
The outspoken government critic is slated to testify before the US Senate foreign relations committee in Washington on Friday. He may be abroad for more than two weeks, according to Ros Sakarach, secretary of the Cabinet for Sam Rainsy’s self-named party.
The aide said the party leader will cut the trip short if the National Assembly is convened. Parliamentarian Tioulong Saumura, who is married to Sam Rainsy, will accompany him, according to a press release.
Sam Rainsy will suggest that the US government withhold recognition from any Cambodian government that is not formed under the law, that lacks a mandate from the people, and that is formed without the benefit of political reforms to create the basis for rule of law, the press release said.
He told the Bangkok-based newspaper that he was sorry the “democratic forces” had to be divided, and that Hun Sen had made a clever move in dividing the opposition so he could adopt authoritarian rule.
“I would prefer to see the opposition forces stick together and let the CPP rule alone,’’ Sam Rainsy said. “We can vote for them to be a minority government.’’
He warned Funcinpec against “hastily” joining the CPP in a coalition government without getting a major reform commitments from the CPP leadership.
Sam Rainsy said a hasty coalition would result in an unstable government because the CPP would maintain its dominant influence over key areas such as the military, the police, the National Election Committee, the Constitutional Council and local authorities such as village chiefs.
Following his testimony in Washington, Sam Rainsy is to meet UN officials in New York, and then return to Washington. Rainsy has also tentatively scheduled a trip to Paris and other European cities.