Phnom Penh moves to end long political case
Cambodia has granted a royal pardon to former opposition leader Kem Sokha, who had been serving a 27 year sentence for treason.
Sokha led the now dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). Authorities arrested him in 2017 after a video surfaced in which he spoke about receiving support from US pro democracy groups.
Human rights organizations had long criticized the case. They described the charges as politically driven and unfair.
Details of the pardon decision
Hun Sen announced the pardon on Facebook and shared a photo of the royal decree. His son, Hun Manet, who became prime minister in 2023, called the move a step toward national unity.
Rights groups react with concern
Human rights advocate Elaine Pearson from Human Rights Watch said the pardon corrects part of a long injustice. She also said Sokha’s continued political restrictions remain troubling, especially after years of detention.
