Cambodia's continuing crisis

It is now a month since Mr Rainsy has been away on his campaign. But it is unlikely that the international community will be persuaded to impose sanctions or blanket travel restrictions - there are those who are not taken in by the SRP's choreographed campaign or who argue that Mr Rainsy is no less guilty than those he has accused of authoritarian tendencies and of undermining the country's democratic credentials.

While Mr Rainsy is right that much more needs to be done - fighting endemic corruption, reforming the judiciary, promoting financial and administrative transparency, and ensuring good governance - it is important to view these in perspective.

For a post-conflict country, Cambodia has done well and it is a fair comment that for Cambodia, every year since the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 has been better than the preceding one. In the latest Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, Cambodia is ranked 63 out of more than 155. Cambodia was termed “mostly free”, higher than Thailand in the same category at 71, while Vietnam at 137 was “mostly unfree” and Laos at 150 was “repressed”.

Mr Rainsy knows that sooner or later he has to return to Phnom Penh and is now making arrangements. His latest stand is that he will return to Cambodia as soon as he receives a “legitimate court summons with specific charges”. He has also written to the King to help resolve the crisis and ensure that the court's decisions are more consistent and equitable.

Some think Mr Rainsy overplayed his hand this time but his supporters at home remain mostly faithful and that is his plus factor.