Cambodia’s authoritarian government, led by hard-line prime minister Hun Sen, has reacted furiously to the endorsement by global liberals and human rights defenders who pledged support to opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s right to return to his country.

Blacklisting entry for six European lawmakers who publicly declared their readiness to accompany Sam Rainsy and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) opposition on their mission home, Hun Sen further elevated his country’s status as an international pariah.

Those who have been blacklisted from Cambodia:

• Phil Bennion MEP ( Liberal Democrats, UK)
• Ana Gomes (Former MEP, Portugal)
• Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP ( Movement for Rights & Freedoms, Bulgaria)
• Hans van Baalen (Former MEP & President of ALDE Party)
• Abir al Sahlani MEP ( Centerpartiet, Sweden)
• Javier Nart MEP ( Ciudadanos, Spain)

Liberal International president Hakima el Haité blasted back at the Cambodian regime: This blacklisting of elected representatives is concrete evidence that Cambodia under Hun Sen is in full retreat “from multi-party democracy and respect for human rights.”

Infuriated by the backing of liberals from 46 countries around the world for endorsing a resolution championing the right of Sam Rainsy to return home and his mission to lead the restoration of democracy in Cambodia at Liberal International’s 202nd executive committee meeting in London two week’s ago, Hun Sen – the world’s second longest-serving prime minister – has previously threatened to kill Sam Rainsy should he seek to re-enter his native Cambodia.

Liberal International calls on the Cambodian government to return to open & democratic principals.

View our Resolutions adopted at the 202nd ExCom of Liberal International [5-6 July 2019] – HERE