The Liberal Party of the Philippines stands in solidarity with the people of Cambodia in its call for the safe return of the exiled leadership of the Cambodian National Rescue Party.
Political persecution has no place in civilized society. Dissent must not only be tolerated; it must be welcomed if one wishes democracy to remain relevant and continuously mature. Conversely, when dissent is silenced, a people’s spirit stagnates and festers. The authoritarian impulse to persecute critics emanates from fear: of accountability, of the people’s will, and of a regime’s own mortality.
We understand the perils that Sam Rainsy and his supporters face as they hold the line and defend democracy despite constant threats of arrest and harm. We draw inspiration from their courage. We know that, time and again, and as history and our own Philippine example has shown, the human drive toward liberty will always shine through.
We stand with Sam, as we do with liberals here at home and across the globe, in the pursuit of true, lasting, meaningful freedom for our respective nations and for all of humanity.