Hun Xen very nervous about Jasmine Revolution in Cambodia

On 22 July 2011, Hun Xen warned the opposition against using the Jasmine Revolution (Photo: Siv Channa, CEN)

Hun Xen issues new warning on the opposition regarding the Jasmine Revolution

22 July 2011
Cambodia Express News
Translated from Khmer by Soy for KI-Media

Phnom Penh – Hun Xen issues yet another warning to the Cambodian opposition party, telling them not to copy the Jasmine Revolution – a legal popular movement to topple the government leader. Hun Xen warned that he will order arrests and he will use the people’s force to support his regime in order to counter such movement.

During a press conference broadcasted live on TV and radio stations on Friday 22 July 2011 at the Eternal Peace building in Phnom Penh, Hun Xen indicated that the Jasmine Revolution should not be used in Cambodia. “How many are you? How about the people who support the CPP that rule the country, where are they? Don’t try! Because we played with each other once already in 1998. In 2003, following the election, the opposition wanted to try this again, but I prepared 220,000 people to counter it.”

With his declaration, Hun Xen also announced that the Thai Yellow Shirts have prepared funding and armaments to foment an anti- Cambodian government force inside Thailand. But Hun Xen warned that he will issue arrest warrants if such anti-government forces are formed. He also warned that the opposition force [in exile] in Bangkok is also in his hand and it is only a matter of time before measures will be taken.

Hun Xen’s declaration came immediately after opposition leader Sam Rainsy went to Tunisia to study about the Jasmine Revolution which led to the toppling of the government leader. In a communiqué titled: “Sam Rainsy in Tunisia to prepare People Power in Cambodia”, the SRP announced that opposition leader Sam Rainsy will spend 3 days in Tunisia to study about the Jasmine Revolution in North Africa that led to the toppling of Ben Ali, the Tunisian leader, at the beginning of 2011. Sam Rainsy arrived in Tunis in 21 July 2011.