Khmer news today

Hun Sen warns not to wrestle power (from him?) by using force

Friday, March 20, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, Hun Sen warned politicians whom he did not name directly, telling them that if they want to change the country’s leader, they must do it according to a democratic election, and they should not use force because, otherwise, they will receive heavy retaliations back. In his closing speech held at the yearly meeting of the ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Hun Sen declared: “Don’t get excited about changing [the country leader] or not. The change must be done according to the election, don’t use the shortcut, I tell you, don’t use the shortcut at all. [The change must de done under] a democratic election, don’t use a shortcut, I don’t know what other would do, but Hun Sen will strike back.” Yim Sovann, SRP MP and party spokesman, reacted to Hun Sen’s declaration by saying that his party will never resort to war. Yim Sovann told a pro-SRP newspaper that: “War cannot start up and the opposition will not foment war, and nobody is dumb enough to conduct a war in this day and age anymore. The SRP will follow the peaceful path.”