Former King Sihanouk Comments on Sam Rainsy trial
Three parties leaders'comments on Sam Rainsy trial are on former King website
Former King Norodom Sihanouk posted all three political parties leaders' comments on his website, involving opposition Sam Rainsy party leader trial. The former monarch consider these comments as ridiculous, according to his article in French which was unofficially translated into English. Mr. Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia by the Phnom Penh municipal court on 12-22 to 18 months imprisonment and fined more than 50 million riels (Cambodian currency) for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of the National Assembly. Mr. Sam Rainsy was charged with claiming Prince Ranariddh received a kickback from Mr. Hun Sen to form a new coalition government. Mr. Sam Rainsy's conviction sparks negative reactions from the United States, international civil societies, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International saying it shows the ruling leaders' intention to silence the opposition's voice. These institutions criticize Cambodian court system as being bias. The government spokesman Khieu Kanharith defends the government saying the Amnesty International's criticism is groundless. Prince Ranariddh says that the international civil societies' criticism about the court not being independent, so there should be no law suit being filed, and that all three party leaders, including himself should go to the court. This is the summary of the quotes which the former monarch put on his website. Mr. Sam Rainsy is living in self-imposed exile in France. Political analysts say that former King Sihanouk's quotes should be considered by all Cambodian politicians.