Synopsis: Prime Minister dismisses the overseas administration set up by the opposition in Paris, calling it unconstitutional and illegitimate.

Prime Minister Hun Manet mocked opposition figure Sam Rainsy yesterday for forming an illegitimate government and appointing himself leader after failing numerous times to win public support through elections.

Speaking at an event to distribute rice seeds and food supplies to residents affected by flooding in Pursat province yesterday, Mr Hun Manet defended Cambodia’s constitutional system of government while criticising the opposition group abroad that had announced the formation of the “October 23 Government”.

The premier said a legitimate government must emerge from elections held every five years, with the winning political party forming a government that has a vote of confidence from the National Assembly before being appointed by the King.

He contrasted this constitutional process with the opposition group’s announcement of a government, which he said is made up of members appointing one another without a legal or constitutional mandate.

“I find it astonishing that veteran politician Sam Rainsy has spent election after election opposing my father, Samdech Techo [Hun Sen], but has never become prime minister because the people did not support him,” Mr Hun Manet said.

Sam Rainsy speaks to his supporters in France. October 23 Government

“Now the Cambodian People’s Party has moved into its second generation, while he remains where he was. After failing to compete with Samdech Techo, despite him being in his 70s, he is now trying to compete with people in their 40s and 50s. Seeing that there is no opportunity, he has gone on to establish an illegal government and appoint himself prime minister,” he added.

He said the individuals appointed to positions in the so-called administration lacked professional expertise and were known for insulting the government on Facebook.

He said another opposition figure, Um Sam An previously made false claims concerning Cambodia’s border demarcation with Thailand.

Mr Hun Manet said that when challenged to provide documentary evidence for the claims, Sam An admitted he had no documents and had instead relied on intuition before travelling to France to obtain copies of maps.

The prime minister said he had no intention of engaging in public arguments with someone lacking the proof and qualifications for his claims.

On border matters, Mr Hun Manet said demarcation was a technical and legal process governed by established agreements.

He said Cambodia’s border work with Thailand was based on the 1907 treaties and conventions, including the procès-verbaux of the Franco-Siamese Boundary Commission, as well as the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU provides a framework for reviewing existing border markers and their positions, rather than establishing new markers, he said, citing the correction of the positions of markers 58 and 59 as examples.

Mr Hun Manet said Rainsy had also failed to respond to a Thai media report attributing to him the statement that Cambodia had fired first in the border conflict with Thailand.

Rainsy denied making the statement but did not demand a correction from the Thai media outlet, despite having the opportunity to defend his reputation and Cambodia’s national image, he added.

“If a newspaper publishes something incorrectly, the normal response is to ask it to correct the report,” Mr Hun Manet said. “It is not enough simply to say that you did not say it.”

He said Rainsy was willing to write to French President Emmanuel Macron asking him not to visit Cambodia but took no action against the Thai newspaper over a misquotation.

“You dare to write a letter to French President Macron asking him not to visit Cambodia, but you do not dare to write to the Thai newspaper asking it to correct the statement it attributed to you.

Why not?” Mr Hun Manet said.

He added that Rainsy might be reluctant to challenge the newspaper because it could possess the evidence to back its report.

The remarks came amid preparations for the Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh from November 14 to 16.

Rainsy recently wrote to France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs about Macron attending the summit in Cambodia.

Mr Hun Manet said the appeal failed to undermine preparations for the event, for which more than 70 countries have registered to participate, including more than 20 heads of state and government.

The summit is expected to bring together leaders and representatives of Francophone countries from around the world in Phnom Penh.

Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Rainsy created the overseas government to raise funds from supporters.

“We already know that Sam Rainsy’s supporters and his group have created many associations to mobilise funds to support his activities,” he said.

“We know that in order to be elected as prime minister, one does not appoint oneself; one must go through an election as stipulated in the Constitution of Cambodia.

“Furthermore, if we look at Sam Rainsy’s actions, what he does is merely out of a desire to (challenge) the country’s leadership. In reality, Sam Rainsy has not prioritised the national interest, because he is willing to support Thailand or speak in favour of Thailand while criticising his own homeland,” he said.

He added that Rainsy is playing a zero-sum political game against Cambodia’s leadership without putting the national interest first.

“Citizens of Cambodia cannot support acts of aggression or acts of destruction by another country,” he said.