The “culture of dialogue” between Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy will be over unless Mr. Rainsy issues a public apology for describing the premier as a fascist, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said Thursday.
Mr. Rainsy described Monday’s beating of two CNRP lawmakers during a pro-CPP protest in front of the National Assembly as an example of how “Hun Sen can only resort to fascist methods in order to cling on to power.”
Mr. Eysan said that such an insult against Mr. Hun Sen, who has been accused by Mr. Rainsy of organizing Monday’s beatings, was not acceptable under the new political culture, which is meant to replace violence with civil discourse.
“To shake hands while stepping on [his] foot, our side can’t take that—especially comparing him to [ousted Libyan leader] Qaddafi, the fascists and the communists.
This is a serious issue and [Mr. Hun Sen] demands a public apology,” Mr. Eysan said.
“If he apologizes publicly, [the culture of dialogue] can be restored. If he does not apologize, there is no culture of dialogue.”
When asked, Mr. Rainsy did not say whether he would apologize.
“There [are] more or less Fascist METHODS being used even in so-called democratic countries,” he said in an email.
