Seven of his party's lawmakers-elect are in jail, more may be soon to follow and the negotiations to end Cambodia's near year-long political deadlock have come to a grinding halt.

On Saturday, opposition leader Sam Rainsy returned to this unfurling political crisis.

After the bloody scenes on Tuesday when CNRP supporters fought back violently against attacking security forces, Rainsy's return to thousands of supporters was a peaceful affair.

But the peace is fragile and if action is not taken fast to diffuse this situation, it could get very ugly.