Cambodian Prime Minister Sues Former Opposition Leader for Defamation

Sam Rainsy has accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of being behind the death of the late Cambodian National Police chief Hok Lundy in a helicopter crash in 2008. "Sam Rainsy wrote unacceptable things about the Prime Minister on his Facebook account," Hun Sen's lawyer Luc Brossollet said today. The case will be heard in France.

Rainsy was a co-founder of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was dissolved in 2017 for colluding with foreigners to overthrow the government. Rainsy is a French citizen and lives in France to avoid charges in Cambodia that he calls "politically motivated".

The former opposition leader said today that he welcomed the lawsuit. "This case will give me the opportunity to confront him before an independent court," Rainsy said. He also mentioned plans to return to Cambodia in November to "be with the people".

Hok Lundy and three others died on November 9, 2008, in a helicopter crash in heavy rain while flying over Svay Rieng province. Cambodian authorities determined the cause of the crash was bad weather and possibly a lightning strike. The helicopter may have also hit something as it was coming down.