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Cambodia pardons opposition leader Kem Sokha
Cambodia's acting head of state, Hun Sen, has pardoned former opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was serving a 27-year sentence for treason, according to a royal decree signed on his behalf.
Background of the case
Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in 2017 after a video surfaced in which he discussed receiving support from U.S. pro-democracy groups. He was convicted of treason in 2023 and placed under house arrest. Human rights organizations have widely condemned the charges as politically motivated.
Pardon details and restrictions
Hun Sen announced the pardon on Facebook, sharing a photo of the royal decree he signed on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni. The pardon follows the rejection of Sokha's appeal last month but does not lift a five-year ban on his ability to leave Cambodia.
Political context and crackdown
Sokha's CNRP posed a significant threat to Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in the 2013 elections, nearly securing a surprise victory despite allegations of vote-rigging and intimidation. His arrest in 2017, less than a year before the next election, led to the CNRP being banned from contesting, effectively turning Cambodia into a one-party state.
The crackdown extended beyond politics. On the day of Sokha's arrest, the Cambodia Daily, an independent newspaper, published its final edition with the headline "Descent Into Outright Dictatorship," featuring a photo of Sokha in handcuffs.
International reactions
The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia described Sokha's case as "based on a fabricated conspiracy" and called his conviction a "miscarriage of justice." The UN Human Rights Commissioner also demanded his release, expressing concerns over the legitimacy of the charges and the fairness of the trial.
Hun Sen's continued influence
Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, stepped down as prime minister in 2023, handing power to his son, Hun Manet. However, he remains acting head of state while King Norodom Sihamoni receives medical treatment abroad. Critics accuse him of using the judiciary to silence opponents, a pattern that has persisted under his leadership.
Family's perspective
In 2018, Sokha's daughter, Kem Monovithya, told the BBC that her father's release would only happen if his detention became a liability for Hun Sen. "If there's no cost of keeping him, he will continue to keep him," she said.
