Cambodian opposition veteran Sam Rainsy flew into Malaysia on Saturday and told supporters to “keep up the hope” after promising to return home from self-imposed exile to rally opponents of authoritarian ruler Hun Sen.
Cambodia’s government said there was no ban on Rainsy returning, but it described him as “convict Sam Rainsy” and said it would take action against anyone posing a threat to state security – an accusation it has already laid against him.
For decades, one-time finance minister Rainsy, 70, has been an opponent of Hun Sen, 67, a former Khmer Rouge commander who has ruled his Southeast Asian country of 16 million people with an iron hand for 34 years.
