Now in Kuala Lumpur, she told a Bloomberg reporter she plans to return to Cambodia by land despite fierce opposition from Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Cambodian leader, in power since 1985, has promised to “use weapons of all kinds” to stop a group led by top opposition figure Sam Rainsy from returning to Cambodia on Saturday, the country’s independence day.

Cambodia has sent troops to its border and called on neighbouring countries to arrest exiled dissidents after accusing them of plotting a coup as the European Union reviews trade privileges that are essential to the economy.

Meanwhile Hun Sen’s administration has asked nearby countries in Southeast Asia to block passage of the opponents, as he seeks to stop them from entering Cambodia.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha ordered customs to deny Rainsy’s entry due to Asean “rules”. Yesterday, he posted a picture of himself packing his bags as he prepared to board a plane from Paris to Bangkok. However, Associated Press reported he was prevented from boarding the flight.

Both Rainsy and Sochua have been in exile for four years.

While Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad initially told reporters his country was looking for another country that would take in Sochua, local media quoted immigration department director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud yesterday evening as saying she was now permitted to enter Malaysia.

The moves come shortly before Europe is expected to issue a decision on whether or not to pull Cambodia’s preferential tariff status due to its deteriorating human rights situation, a move that could devastate its economy. The EU is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 45% of all exports in 2018.