PHNOM PENH— Relations between Cambodia’s ruling party and the opposition deteriorated further this week after a mob beat up two opposition legislators as they left parliament. That incident, which was blamed on suspected ruling party supporters, comes after numerous warnings from Prime Minister Hun Sen that the country would return to civil war should his party lose the 2018 general election.
The assault on Monday followed the breakdown earlier this year of the so-called culture of dialogue between Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy — a process that was, in theory at least, meant to ratchet down tensions.
The assailants attacked the two lawmakers as they left parliament, dragging them from their vehicles and inflicting serious injuries. Witnesses say police and security guards nearby did nothing to help the two MPs, who are now hospitalized in Thailand.
The violence came shortly after hundreds of supporters of the ruling Cambodian People's Party protesting outside parliament, demanding that opposition deputy head Kem Sokha resign his position as vice-president of the legislature.