(6 Nov 2019) Cambodia's currently exiled opposition will be returning to their homeland, against the Cambodian government's wishes, according to a former Cambodian politician speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday. At a press conference, Mu Sochua, Vice President of the court-disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said she and colleagues also in self-imposed exile will return on November 9.
A court ruling dissolved the CNRP on grounds of plotting to overthrow the government, leading to a 5-year ban for over 100 party members.
November 9 is Cambodia's Independence Day, celebrating freedom from French colonial rule.
"We are risking our lives. We will go to Cambodia empty handed with bare hands," said Sochua, who added the return of exiled CNRP members is "not a coup coup d'etat".
The comments come after Cambodia's most prominent opposition politician, Sam Rainsy, said he's ready to risk imprisonment or death by returning to his country to unseat the country's longtime ruler.
Sam Rainsy, co-founder of the CNRP, told The Associated Press he hopes his planned return will trigger a People's Power-style movement to force Prime Minister Hun Sen from office.
Hun Sen's government has accused opposition members of seeking to overthrow him and said they'll be arrested if they try to enter Cambodia.
Sam Rainsy's party was touted as a threat to Hun Sen's party in last year's election but was dissolved by the courts.
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