Source: FN
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that he is ready to propose to His Majesty King to pardon the former CNRP officials who were banned from political activities, addressing to nearly 18,000 workers from 23 factories in Kompong Speu province.
The premier warned that those who opposed the Supreme Court’s verdict will not be pardoned but jailed.
“This proposed amendment does not aim for any specific party, but for all parties in Cambodia,” the premier stated.
Cambodia’s National Assembly voted Wednesday to amend the law to enable the 118 former CNRP officials resume their political activities.
According to the proposed amendments, Article 45-new of Political Party will add a new a paragraph as follows:
“Individual whom the court banned from doing political activities could not create a new party, or participate in any other political parties, or be a candidate for others to vote, or do any activities to support or oppose other parties. Individual whom the court banned from doing political activities will receive absolute rights to legally participate in political activities when banning expired as determined by the Supreme Court’s verdict, or in the case that individual has been rehabilitated by His Majesty King as requested by Prime Minister in accordance with the proposal of Minister of Interior.”
The proposed amendment is one of the agendas of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s further steps to strengthen democracy and political space as well as facilitate freedom of press, CSOs, and unions, according to foreign affair ministry’s press release dated Monday.
Kem Sokha, former President of CNRP, and Sam Rainsy’s confidant Kong Korm announced to support lifting the bans so that the 118 banned could resume their political activities, whereas Sam Rainsy opposed.
Anyone of the banned to accept the lift and re-enter politics is the traitor, Rainsy recently warned his former members, speaking in an interview with RFI.
It is worth noting that on 16 November 2017, the Supreme Court decided to dissolve CNRP for attempting to topple the legitimate government through a color revolution; and ban 118 members of the party from engaging in political activities for five years.