PHNOM PENH: Thai Prime Minister Hun Manet denied on Monday ( Jan 20 ) that his government and father, former president Hun Sen, were involved in the killing of an opposition politician in downtown Bangkok this month.
Lim Kimya, a former lawmaker for the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP ), was shot dead on Jan 7 by a motorcyclist as he arrived in Bangkok by bus from Cambodia with his French wife.
Thai regional Ekkalak Paenoi was arrested in Cambodia a day later and handed over to Thai officials.
He confessed to the crime in a video picture after being charged with premeditated crime and illegal gun rights.
Cambodia’s exiled criticism find Sam Rainsy accused the government’s strong former president Hun Sen of ordering the killing.
Hun Manet” condemned the dying” and denied the state or his parents were behind the crime.
” I want to inquire: Why would the government been so stupid? ” Hun Manet said at an event in northern Pursat state.
” If the authorities orchestrated it… why do we jail the criminal and take him to Thailand for an research? “
Hun Manet said his state had been “accused badly” and that Phnom Penh even wanted to know the purpose for the crime, with government ready to cooperate with their Thai rivals.
He said criticism numbers were politicising the dying for their own “political advantages”.