At a news conference, Yim Sovann said the opposition believed that the government was trying to link it to a planned protest in Australia against Prime Minister Hun Sen’s oldest son, Hun Manet. He denied any link but said he feared that the government would seek some sort of retaliation against the party.
“We are not boycotting, but we are looking to see if the political environment is good, then we will join; but if not we retain our right not to attend,” he said. By claiming the party was not boycotting, he appeared to leave room for compromise.