Rocket Attack Suspects Flee

Ranariddh, Sam Rainsy flee in wake of grenade attack.
26 September 1998
South China Morning Post

The country's top two opposition leaders fled the country yesterday and a third went into hiding as police moved against Hun Sen's political opponents after what his supporters said was an assassination attempt on him the day before.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy, taking advantage of the apparent lifting of a travel ban, boarded a charter flight in Siem Reap for Bangkok along with Yim Sovann, a senior member of the Sam Rainsy Party.

Another opposition leader, Kem Sokha, was in hiding, claiming police had surrounded his house in Phnom Penh.

A source said Prince Ranariddh and Mr Sam Rainsy left as they feared being arrested and framed for ordering the attack in Siem Reap on Thursday as they and Mr Hun Sen travelled to a swearing-in ceremony for the new Parliament.

"If they leave, they can choose to come back," the source said. "If they don't leave, they might not get the chance."

Prince Ranariddh and Mr Sam Rainsy said they expected to return for the first full session of the National Assembly next week.

A boy, 13, was killed and three relatives wounded when the rocket-propelled grenade detonated.

A government spokesman said eight suspects remained in custody in Siem Reap, but backtracked on police statements the previous day that Prince Ranariddh and Mr Sam Rainsy were the prime suspects.

"All possibilities are open," spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

"It's difficult to say the suspects are opposition members ... but they are members of political parties. It's better not to focus on (Prince Ranariddh's) Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy Party. It's better to let the police do their investigation."

Mr Khieu Kanharith said police were searching for another suspect, believed to be the ringleader, who was allegedly seen in the area 10 minutes before the explosion.

He declined to say if Mr Kem Sokha, leader of the Son Sann Party, was the suspect still at large.

Mr Kem Sokha, reached briefly by mobile phone, said he was staying in a "safe place", and his situation "was not so good".

The rocket was detonated less than 700 metres from the residence of King Norodom Sihanouk, who was preparing to host a meeting of party leaders.

Some witnesses said Mr Hun Sen's vehicle had already arrived at King Sihanouk's residence when the explosion happened.

But government officials and members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party insist the rocket exploded just in front of Mr Hun Sen's motorcade in a failed assassination attempt.