The National Police on Saturday called for assistance from the “national and international public” to ensure Sam Rainsy, the “acting president” of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, faced the Kingdom’s courts.

“To protect the rule of law and maintain security, the National Police would like to appeal to the national and international public to support officials as they enforce the law and not be tricked by a handful of ill-intentioned people provoking citizens to revolt against the authorities. This is illegal and would lead to social insecurity.

“Please immediately abandon any intention to prevent the enforcement of court warrants as this will be punished in accordance with the law,” a National Police statement said.

The National Police appealed to Cambodians and the international community to see that Rainsy faced the courts, warning that action would be taken against anyone intending to provoke citizens to oppose the authorities and preventing the enforcement of the law.

The National Police statement comes after repeated announcements from senior CNRP leadership abroad that Rainsy, who fled overseas to escape a slew of outstanding court cases, would return to Cambodia in September.

National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun said on Sunday that the cooperation of the Kingdom’s neighbours in arresting Rainsy, should he enter their countries while attempting to return to Cambodia, had been requested.

“We have requested cooperation and it now depends on our partner countries. We would be happy were they to arrest [Rainsy],” Kim Khoeun said.

Rainsy had not responded to emailed requests for comment from The Post as of press time.

Political analyst Lao Mong Hay said it was not unusual for the National Police to call for the enforcing of court orders.

The CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court on November 16, 2017, after the arrest of its president Kem Sokha two months prior on a treason charge for allegedly colluding with the US to overthrow the government.