Editing Sam Rainsy (section)

== Early life and political career ==

[[File:Sam Rainsy protest.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rainsy leading a mass demonstration in Phnom Penh on 24 October 2013.]] 
Sam Rainsy was born in [[Phnom Penh]] on 10 March 1949. He moved to [[France]] in 1965, studied there and then worked as an investment manager and executive director in a variety of [[Paris]]ian financial companies.<ref name="Brown240">Brown, Zasloff (1998), p. 240</ref> He became a member of the [[Funcinpec]] Party, and after returning to Cambodia in 1992 was elected a member of parliament for [[Siem Reap Province]] the following year. He became Minister of Finance, but was expelled from the party after losing a vote of no-confidence in 1994. In 1995, he founded the Khmer Nation Party (KNP), which changed its name before the 1998 elections to the [[Sam Rainsy Party]] (SRP) to avoid registration issues.<ref name="samrainsyparty.org"/> In the 2003 elections, it polled 22% of the vote.

At that time, the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh said it was "deeply concerned" that the government appeared to be trying to "silence the opposition". Other embassies, local and international organizations shared the same concerns. Sam was [[trial in absentia|tried ''in absentia'']] on 22 December 2005 in relation to the defamation lawsuits. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison and ordered him to pay around US$14,000 in fines and compensation. On 5 February 2006, Rainsy received a Royal Pardon by [[Norodom Sihamoni]] at [[Hun Sen]]'s request. He then returned to Cambodia on 10 February 2006.

In April 2008, Rainsy accused Cambodia's then foreign minister Hor Namhong of having served under the Khmer Rouge<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voacambodia.com/a/a-40-2008-04-18-voa3-90166337/1358155.html|title=FM To Sue Sam Rainsy for Khmer Rouge Remarks|website=VOA|date=18 April 2008 }}</ref> as director of the Beoung Trabek prison, where torture and murder was carried out. Hor Namhong responded by suing Rainsy for defamation and this was upheld by Cambodia's courts, but Hor Namhong's case was rejected in April 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichJuriJudi.do?oldAction=rechExpJuriJudi&idTexte=JURITEXT000024047974&fastReqId=381754607&fastPos=1|title=Cour de cassation, criminelle, Chambre criminelle, 27 avril 2011, 10-83.771, Publié au bulletin &#124; Legifrance}}</ref> by France's Cour de Cassation.

Following Rainsy's announcement on 7 July 2013,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/arrest-07082013153234.html|title=Cambodian Authorities Say They'll Arrest Sam Rainsy If He Returns|website=Radio Free Asia}}</ref> that he would return to Cambodia for the national legislative elections, he was pardoned for the "defamation" of Hor Namhong by King [[Norodom Sihamoni]] at the request of Hun Sen<ref name="PPP"/> and returned to Cambodia on 19 July 2013.<ref name="BBC"/>

On 22 July 2014, the Cambodian political crisis ongoing since 2013 was officially ended in a deal reached between the CPP and CNRP. The opposition also agreed to accept their seats in parliament, thus ending the longest political deadlock in Cambodian history. The CNRP was also given leadership roles in parliament, with Kem Sokha as the first vice president of the National Assembly and other politicians chairing 5 of the 10 parliamentary commissions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/political-deadlock-broken |title=Political deadlock broken |newspaper=[[The Phnom Penh Post]] |date=22 July 2014 |accessdate=31 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodian-opposition-gets-parliamentary-commission-roles/2428418.html |title=Cambodian Opposition Gets Parliamentary Commission Roles |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |first=Robert |last=Carmichael |date=26 August 2014 |accessdate=31 August 2014}}</ref> Rainsy proposed the National Assembly to formally recognize an official opposition and pushed for a full [[shadow cabinet]]. Such changes would allow him to debate directly with Hun Sen, similar to the [[Westminster system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phnompenhpost.com/national/leadership-elections-set |title=Leadership elections set |work=[[The Phnom Penh Post]] |first=Kevin |last=Ponniah |date=26 August 2014 |accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref>

On 13 November 2015, the royal pardon that had been given to Rainsy in 2013 over the "defamation" of Hor Namhong was withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-sam-rainsy-100293|title=Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Sam Rainsy|work=[[The Cambodia Daily]]|date=13 November 2015|accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref> Three days later, he was unanimously removed from the National Assembly by the [[Cambodian People's Party]] while facing several charges.<ref name="removal"/> Sam Rainsy stood by his original claims<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rainsy-stands-namhong-accusation|title=Rainsy stands by Namhong accusation}}</ref> that Hor Namhong had been responsible for prison deaths under the Khmer Rouge. On 1 December 2015, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court summoned Sam Rainsy in absentia to clarify a statement he posted to his Facebook account following a defamation complaint by parliamentary president Heng Samrin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/summons-12022015180642.html|title=Cambodian Court Summons Sam Rainsy in New Defamation Case|website=Radio Free Asia}}</ref> Less than two weeks earlier, the same court had issued another summons for Sam Rainsy to appear for questioning over his alleged involvement in using a fake map to resolve a border dispute with Vietnam.<ref>[http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/771728/sam-rainsy-faces-more-charges Sam Rainsy faces more charges] bangkokpost.com {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

On 11 February 2017, Rainsy resigned as President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party following a proposed amendment by Hun Sen barring convicted criminals from leading a political party.<ref name="resign"/> His resignation was accepted by his party on 12 February.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/opposition-party-accepted-Sam-Rainsy-resigned-02122017042007.html |title=គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិយល់ព្រមឲ្យលោកសមរង្ស៊ីលាលែងពីគណបក្ស |work=[[Radio Free Asia]] |publisher=RFA Khmer |language=Khmer |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=12 February 2017}}</ref> His successor as leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sokha-arrested-treason-accused-colluding-us-topple-government|title = Sokha arrested for 'treason', is accused of colluding with US to topple the government}}</ref> on 3 September 2017, and, as of March 2018, remains in prison without trial. Sam Rainsy responded by creating the Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM), which seeks to increase international pressure on the Hun Sen regime. The US said in February 2018 that it was suspending or curtailing programs<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politi.co/2FAiCkB|title=Trump administration says it's cutting aid to Cambodia over democracy rollbacks|first=Elizabeth|last=Castillo|website=POLITICO|date=27 February 2018 }}</ref>  that support the Cambodian military, local government authorities and a major taxation body. Germany in February 2018 suspended visas for Cambodian government members<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cambodia-politics-germany-idUSKCN1G60CI|title=Germany suspends visas for Cambodian government members over crackdown|newspaper=Reuters|date=February 22, 2018|via=www.reuters.com|last1=Thul|first1=Prak Chan}}</ref> in light of the crackdown on the opposition. In the same month, the EU said it was considering targeted measures<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/32957/st06416-en18.pdf|title=Outcome of proceedings|website=consilium.europa.eu|access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref> against the Hun Sen regime.

In March 2018, Kem Sokha's period of detention without trial was extended for six months,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voacambodia.com/a/court-extends-pre-trail-detention-of-jailed-opposition-leader/4283122.html|title=Court Extends Pre-Trial Detention of Jailed Opposition Leader|website=VOA|date=7 March 2018 }}</ref> meaning that he will be in prison when the country's national parliamentary elections scheduled for July 2018 takes place. In the same month, Hun Sen rejected a proposal from Sam Rainsy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/cambodian-leader-rejects-call-talks-opposition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126192157/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/cambodian-leader-rejects-call-talks-opposition|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 26, 2020|title=Cambodian Leader Rejects Call for Talks from Opposition|website=Voice of America}}</ref> for talks on a way of ending the crisis.

In August 2019, Rainsy announced his intention to return to Cambodia on [[Independence Day]] on 9 November. The government confirmed that they would arrest him should he return on that date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voacambodia.com/a/hun-sen-vows-to-arrest-sam-rainsy-if-he-returns-or-step-down-as-pm/5063611.html/|title=Hun Sen Vows to Arrest Sam Rainsy if He Returns, or Step Down As PM|first=Khemara|last=Sok|publisher=Voice of America|date=31 August 2019|accessdate=31 August 2019}}</ref> The Cambodian government responded by threatening any airline that transported him to Cambodia with "serious consequences".<ref name=":1" /> The government of Thailand, from where he planned to travel to Cambodia by land, also denied him entry at the request of Cambodia.<ref name=":2" /> Rainsy was denied boarding on a [[Thai Airways]] flight from Paris to Bangkok,<ref name=":0" /> from where he planned to travel to Cambodia, on 7 November, despite having a valid ticket. He said he will find another way to return to his country.

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Sam Rainsy advocated the introduction of immunity passports based on tests for antibodies as a way to restart the international economy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-12|title=Opinion {{!}} Immunity Passports: A proposal to revive tourism, international trade and transport|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/105720/immunity-passports-a-proposal-to-revive-tourism-international-trade-and-transport-and-the-world-economy/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=The Brussels Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-27|title=How to Prevent COVID-19 From Paralysing the World's Economy|url=https://thegeopolitics.com/how-to-prevent-covid-19-from-paralysing-the-worlds-economy/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=The Geopolitics|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rainsy|first=Sam|date=2020-04-08|title=International Immunity Passports Can Help Restore Freedom of Movement|url=https://thegeopolitics.com/international-immunity-passports-can-help-restore-freedom-of-movement/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=The Geopolitics|language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2020, Rainsy and the CNRP denounced China's military expansionism which involved agreement to establish military bases in Cambodia following the demolition of a US-built facility at the [[Ream Naval Base]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201004133608/https://fr.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cambodia-military/cambodia-demolished-u-s-built-facility-on-naval-base-researchers-idUSKBN26N39O Reuters]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/secret-deal-for-chinese-naval-outpost-in-cambodia-raises-u-s-fears-of-beijings-ambitions-11563732482|title=Deal for Naval Outpost in Cambodia Furthers China's Quest for Military Network|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url-access=limited  |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/520708567985881/3505980546125320 |archive-date = 2022-04-30| url = https://www.facebook.com/rainsy.sam.5/posts/3505980546125320 |title = Sam Rainsy on Facebook  |website=[[Facebook]]}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref name="NikkeiOctober2">{{cite news |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Cambodia-naval-base-set-to-undergo-China-led-expansion |newspaper=[[Nikkei Asian Review]] |date=October 3, 2020 |first1=Shaun |last1=Turton |first2=Mech |last2=Dara |title=Cambodia naval base set to undergo China-led expansion |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201006064133/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Cambodia-naval-base-set-to-undergo-China-led-expansion |archive-date=October 6, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>