CAMBODIAN opposition politician Mu Sochua, who was released from a KLIA detention centre yesterday, said she planned to return to her country by land, despite Prime Minister Hun Sen’s threats.

The vice-president of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) tweeted today that she was in Kuala Lumpur and would continue with plans to return to Cambodia.

“Still maintaining the same plan: Cambodia by land. Hun Sen can not deprive us & the people the right to return. Open the border,” Sochua tweeted.

In Kuala Lumpur. Still maintaining the same plan: Cambodia by land. Hun Sen can not deprive us a& the people the right to return. Open the border. https://t.co/agXoFDbSyQ

— MuSochua (@sochua_mu) November 7, 2019

A source had told The Malaysian Insight that three Cambodian opposition members had been in Malaysia to meet other leaders from the CNRP and undergo a training programme.

Sochua had planned to meet up with other exiled opposition members, including exiled Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy, in Thailand before crossing the border to their home country in conjunction with its independence day tomorrow.

Hun Sen had promised to “use weapons of all kinds” to stop the group. 

Rainsy was blocked in Paris yesterday from boarding a plane destined for Thailand.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said the three would not be deported to Cambodia, where they would likely face punishment.

He had said Putrajaya did not want to get involved in Cambodia’s internal affairs.

Hun Sen, an authoritarian leader who has ruled Cambodia since 1985, has vowed not to allow Rainsy to return, to have him arrested on sight, and has sought support from regional neighbours to thwart the opposition’s plans.

Rainsy has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail in Cambodia for convictions he says are politically motivated. 

In September, Rainsy and several opposition officials were charged with plotting a coup, which carries a prison term of up to 30 years.

Dozens of opposition activists have been arrested in weeks for allegedly agitating for the government to be toppled during Rainsy’s mooted return. – November 8, 2019.