(Phnom Penh, 26th) Cambodian Senate President and former Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that he has pardoned opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for treason.
According to AFP, on Monday (May 25), Hun Sen posted on social media a royal decree signed by him, announcing that Kem Sokha has been granted a pardon.
Kem Sokha was arrested in 2017, accused of conspiring with the United States to overthrow Hun Sen, who has governed Cambodia for nearly 40 years. Kem Sokha denied the charges.
In March 2023, the Phnom Penh court found Kem Sokha guilty of treason and sentenced him to 27 years in prison, but allowed him to serve his sentence under house arrest while revoking his citizenship and political rights.
Kem Sokha is the co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the former opposition party.
Human rights advocates say the charges against Kem Sokha were intended to prevent him and his party from participating in politics. The Cambodia National Rescue Party had previously defeated Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party in elections.
The court rejected Kem Sokha's appeal against the treason conviction on April 30th this year, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern earlier this month.
The appellate court also imposed an additional ruling on Kem Sokha, banning him from leaving the country for five years. The royal decree released by Hun Sen stated that the pardon does not revoke this ruling.
In a letter to the appellate court on Monday, Kem Sokha stated that although he was dissatisfied with the verdict, he would not appeal to the Supreme Court.
He stated: “In the spirit of reconciliation, resolving this issue through dialogue among Cambodians is the best choice in the interests of the nation and the Cambodian people.”
Kem Sokha was arrested in 2017, accused of conspiring with the United States to overthrow Hun Sen, who has governed Cambodia for nearly 40 years. Kem Sokha denied the charges.
In March 2023, the Phnom Penh court found Kem Sokha guilty of treason and sentenced him to 27 years in prison, but allowed him to serve his sentence under house arrest while revoking his citizenship and political rights.
Kem Sokha is the co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the former opposition party.
Human rights advocates say the charges against Kem Sokha were intended to prevent him and his party from participating in politics. The Cambodia National Rescue Party had previously defeated Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party in elections.
The court rejected Kem Sokha's appeal against the treason conviction on April 30th this year, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern earlier this month.
The appellate court also imposed an additional ruling on Kem Sokha, banning him from leaving the country for five years. The royal decree released by Hun Sen stated that the pardon does not revoke this ruling.
In a letter to the appellate court on Monday, Kem Sokha stated that although he was dissatisfied with the verdict, he would not appeal to the Supreme Court.
He stated: “In the spirit of reconciliation, resolving this issue through dialogue among Cambodians is the best choice in the interests of the nation and the Cambodian people.”