Hun Sen guaranteed the safety of all who return -- except for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the co-prime minister he overthrew in a violent takeover July 5 to July 6 that has plunged Cambodia into a new bout of instability.
The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on a new co-prime minister Wednesday. With a score of Hun Sen's opponents in exile and many of those remaining behind co-opted or terrorized, the 120-member body is expected to endorse his choice, Foreign Minister Ung Huot.
Ung Huot is a member of Ranariddh's royalist party. Though Hun Sen is expected to retain all real power, having a royalist as his co-prime minister would preserve a surface semblance of the coalition his coup shattered.
"I would like to firmly assure security, safety and freedom for them to carry out political activities," Hun Sen said. "The National Assembly should not become a hostage to anyone or any group of people."
The assembly reopened last week. Only 97 of 120 members showed up. Many of those who did not turn up are Ranariddh loyalists.
Hun Sen repeated to reporters that he would arrest Ranariddh and try him for treason. Hun Sen claims the prince was forming a secret terrorist unit of former Khmer Rouge guerrillas.
"He committed a lot of crimes," Hun Sen claimed. "I compromise after the trial, not before the trial. This is a problem for the court."
Hun Sen said he would amnesty Ranariddh after a trial if asked by King Norodom Sihanouk, the prince's father.
In Bangkok, exiled members of parliament opposed to Hun Sen's takeover said Monday they were not prepared to return.
"It would just be endorsement of his coup, to create the fiction that there is democracy in Cambodia," said Sam Rainsy, head of the unofficial opposition Khmer Nation Party.
The ASEAN delegation appeared to soften previous insistence that Ranariddh be allowed to return, but said Hun Sen had agreed to allow other opponents back in the country and would guarantee their safety to prepare for new elections next year.
The Khmer Rouge -- which caused the deaths of as many as 2 million people when it ruled between 1975 and 1979 -- urged in a radio broadcast that an international tribunal try Hun Sen for human rights abuses.
Hun Sen's forces smashed the prince's troops in two days of fighting in the capital and are currently attacking royalist bases in the northwest.
Nearly 400 royalist troops and 3,400 civilians sought refuge in Thailand after Hun Sen's forces rained rocket and mortar fire on royalist bases. They returned Monday to Cambodia, but Thai troops made them leave their weapons behind.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.