Under intense surveillance from Cambodia’s authoritarian regime, Liberal International gathered prominent liberal politicians together with the exiled leadership of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (LI full member), at the 141^st Assembly of the International Parliamentary Union, in order to mobilise collective and coordinated political pressure and popular support.

Despite Dictator Hun Sen’s unrelenting threats against opposition leader in exile, Sam Rainsy’s life; intensifying violence against opposition supporters, dehumanizing arbitrary arrests and widespread intimidation, Rainsy has not wavered from his commitment to defend democracy in Cambodia.

The twelve liberal parties from around the globe expressed their undivided support for the safe return of Rainsy to his native Cambodia on the 9^th of November and collectively agreed to:

• Engage with lawyers to refer the threats to Rainsy’s life to the International Criminal Court;
• Mobilise political pressure through national parliaments and liberal-lead governments from around the globe;
• Provoke popular support for Rainsy’s return under the #IStandWithSam hashtag.

The many threats of arrest and execution levelled against Rainsy and his supporters are absolutely unacceptable, and only serve to signal to the rest of the world that the government is afraid of their people; intimidation is the crutch of authoritarian regimes that exist without popular support and we reject its use in any circumstance.

One of the main strengths of an interconnected world is that dictators cannot act in a vacuum; they are subject to the scrutiny of international observers and, as such, Liberal International shall ensure that the focus is squarely on the illegal actions of the illegitimate Cambodian regime.

We, as liberals and as supporters of democracy, call on the Dictator to stand down, to allow the safe return of Sam Rainsy and his supporters, and to finally accept the will of the people.

We, the undersigned, endorse this statement:

Ferran Costa – Liberal Party, Andorra

Lord Navnit Dholakia – Liberal Democrats, United Kingdom

Paulien Geerdink – People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Netherlands

Gerry Horkan – Fianna Fail, Ireland

Siripa Intavichein – Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

Annelie Lotriet – Democratic Alliance, South Africa

Till Mansmann – Free Democratic Party, Germany

Juliana Nikolova – Liberal Democratic Party, North Macedonia

Jaqueline Oduol – Orange Democratic Movement, Kenya

Branislav Rajić – Modern Centre Party, Slovenia

Baroness Rosalind Scott – Liberal Democrats, United Kingdom

Laurent Wehrli – Free Democratic Party, Switzerland

SIGN THE PETITION IN SUPPORT OF RAINSY’S RETURN