Phnom Penh (FN), Jan 14 - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned to destroy the opposition members if the European Union decided to withdraw tax preferences on Cambodian goods, addressing at the groundbreaking of the 3rd Ring Road on Monday morning.

“If you want the opposition to die, do it. If you want the opposition to survive, let’s negotiate on an equal manner and with respect to sovereignty and independence [...] Also, never take Cambodia as the subject of election campaigns for popularity,” the Premier warned.

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced to open for negotiations with the European Union on issues of democracy and human rights situation in Cambodia on the spirit of equality and respect for mutual sovereignty.

Cambodian Prime Minister said that it would be EU’s third mistake against Cambodia if the EU withdrew the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferences from Cambodia as lobbied by the opposition groups.

“The EU’s first mistake was supporting coup in Cambodia during 1970s; the second was supporting Khmer Rouge to occupy the UN seat for 12 years; and the third, even the EU just decided to set in motion the formal procedure, once realized, it will become the third mistake of EU’s democratic countries against Cambodia,” the premier stated.

Cambodia watcher based in Phnom Penh Thomas Fowler wrote that the EU will commit a serious mistake if it decides to remove EBA from Cambodia. The EU should instead continue to help Cambodia to develop its economy and gradually build democratic governance. Cambodia can be the bridge and beacon of democracy in the Mekong region as no country in the GMS is currently implementing a democratic system better than Cambodia.

EU has assisted Cambodia on all sectors, the premier said, if EU decided to withdraw EBA, EU will abandon everything they have done for Cambodia over the past years.

Head of the Royal Government of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that the EU’s decision to begin the formal procedure of EBA withdrawal is being used as a psychological warfare to attack the Royal Government of Cambodia under the excuse of poor democracy and violations of human rights.

Prime Minister also highlighted some economic reforms to cope with the possible sanctions on preferential system of Cambodian goods. The plan includes attracting Chinese tourists; boost exports of Cambodian agricultural products; and promote services.

Prime Minister Hun Sen did not express any concerns over the EU’s possible sanctions; indeed, he had experience in leading the politically and economically isolated kingdom to a country with a robust economic growth and successful integration into the region and the world.
=FRESH NEWS