PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has been charged in court for violating the "lese majeste" law by insulting King Norodom Sihamoni in a Facebook post.
The charge against Rainsy was made just days after Minister of Justice Keut Rith ordered prosecutors to take immediate legal action against him for the alleged insult.
According to the Khmer Times, if found guilty, Rainsy faces a jail term of up to five years.
Rainsy, the former president of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), is living in exile in Paris.
On Dec 20, he allegedly posted criticisms of Prime Minister Hun Sen's fundraising project to purchase Covid-19 vaccine, to which the king also donated.
"Hun Sen does not know that the Covid-19 vaccine is not available in retail and if you want to order in bulk from pharmaceutical companies and laboratories in the West that produce those vaccines, you have to deposit billions of dollars first," he had said in the posting.
"Now Hun Sen is silent about this and he is ready to pay back the philanthropists who were cheated by him, including the puppet king."
Former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrath said he did not support Rainsy's remarks on Facebook, especially the part insulting the king.
"If he wants political reconciliation, he must learn to control his anger and should not comment anything that is detrimental or insulting the king, who is loved very much by the people of Cambodia. His actions will also affect his political struggles."
Justice Minister Rith said Rainsy's comment on social media was an insult to the king, which seriously damages the "dignity and reputation" of the monarchy.
However, Rainsy responded to the charge, saying he has the right to express his opinion on the king and accused Hun Sen of using the king "like a shield" to defend his government.
Ruling party CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said the donations from the public to support the government to buy Covid-19 vaccine were a volunteer activity, and that it had garnered good support with a sum of about US$60 million collected.
He said the order from the justice minister to charge Rainsy was to protect the dignity and honour of the king.
"If he does not return to face the trial and defend his charge, then the court may sentence him in absentia," he said, adding that Rainsy would be arrested if he landed in Cambodia.
Rainsy, a fierce government critic, is facing a slew of legal problems, which he claimed were "politically motivated".