Prime Minister Hun Sen has renewed his vow not to negotiate with former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and reiterated that he would only hold direct talks with the international community over political issues in Cambodia, according to the Phnom Penh Post Online on Monday.
During his meeting with Cambodian students studying in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday, Hun Sen said the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) would not be able to engage in political activites until the next general elections four years from now.
“Don’t even hope that your parliamentarians, commune chiefs and commune council members will be able to work again. Wait until 2022 for the commune elections and 2023 for the national elections. And don’t expect that (international) pressure can force Hun Sen to rearrange the elections,” said Hun Sen.
During a separate meeting with some 100 Cambodian supporters living in Europe in Brussels on Saturday, Hun Sen said Rainsy had sent him requests through WhatApp for negotiations to be mediated by the Japanese government.
“This person (Rainsy) said: ‘Do not negotiate with this gangster (Hun Sen), do not negotiate with Hun Sen’s government.’ You texted me via WhatsApp about asking Japan to coordinate a negotiation. Why do you forget that so soon? You after texted me via WhatsApp. Shy do you forget that so soon,” said the prime minister.
“Don’t turn to me (for negotiations) again. I have already declared that if I forgive you for the third time, I will cut my hands off,” said Hun Sen.
He added that he would hold direct talks with foreign powers over political issues in Cambodia.
