In an interview with VOA stringer in Phnom Penh, opposition party president Mr. Sam Rainsy called the National Assembly's hand-raising vote on July 8, 2004 to adopt the controversial additional constitutional law a constitutional coup.
Mr. Rainsy said no one besides Mr. Chea Sim could sign any bill into law in the absence of the King. The opposition leader said Mr. Nhiek Bun Chhay, as second vice-president of the senate, has no rights to sign the additional constitutional bill, because he is number 6 in line to be nominated as Head of State.
Mr. Rainsy said Mr. Nhiek cannot bypass candidate number 3 (the president of the National Assembly), candidate number 4 (the first vice-president of the Senate) and candidate number 5 (the first vice-president of the National Assembly).
As for the deployment of more 100 policemen around Mr. Chea Sim's house on Tuesday morning, July 13, 2004, Mr. Rainsy called it an armed coup.
Mr. Rainsy said he is on his way to Europe and the U.S. to report to friendly governments to intervene in Cambodian politics