Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Friday released a joint seven-point plan to implement their “culture of dialogue”, advising their respective parties to avoid insults such as “traitor” and “dog’s head, Khmer body” and steer clear of phrases like “war will happen”.

According to the leaders, to ensure the political détente continues, parties must stick to seven dos and don’ts based on the July 22 agreement last year, which ended almost a year of post-election deadlock.

Among the principles are honesty and respect as the basis for resolving issues, while the list warns against incitement, threats, intimidation, racial discrimination and political extremism.

The statement also calls on parties to eliminate perceptions of revenge in the event of political change, as described in the saying “When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water recedes, the ants eat the fish”.

It also lists particular provocative insults and phrases to avoid, including: “dog’s head, Khmer body”, “communist”, “Yuon’s puppets”, “traitor”, “nation seller” and “thief”, as well as threats like “putting in jail” and “war will happen”.

CNRP senator Mardi Seng said although positive, the détente was only the beginning and time would tell whether Cambodia could move away from violence, threats and a “culture of impunity” to a genuine culture of dialogue.