On Wednesday, a veteran Cambodian politician and his son were the primary of 118 opposition members who were banned from engaging in politics for five years to lift this restriction.
Kong Korm and his son Kong Bora had their bans lifted when Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni signed a royal decree approving their request for restoration of political rights.
Both were amongst members of the Cambodian National Salvation Party who were banned from political activities after the group was disbanded by court order in November 2017 on trumped-up charges of conspiring with the United States to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government.
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In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Kong Korm said he was delighted that the ban had been lifted and intended to pursue a political profession by joining the Khmer Will Party, formed last 12 months before the elections by one other of his sons.
I’m delighted to be back in Cambodia’s political arena.
Kong Korma
He described the party as representing a brand new hope for Cambodia, advocating moderation fairly than “extremist” policies, which he attributed to the disbanded Cambodia National Salvation Party.
“As of today, my ban has been lifted and my fears that I would no longer be able to engage in politics have been resolved,” Kong Korm said. “In short, I am delighted to re-emerge in Cambodia’s political arena.”
The move against the opposition was seen as an attempt by the federal government to make sure its victory in July’s general election. She took over all 125 seats within the National Assembly.
But the successful move to retain power – Hun Sen marked his thirty fourth anniversary in power on Monday – drew criticism that the polls were neither free nor fair.
Western countries, already concerned about Hun Sen’s authoritarian ways, have imposed diplomatic sanctions and are threatening to impose economic sanctions, a move that Hun Sen recently warned would hurt the opposition.
Allowing politicians to hunt lifting of the bans is a component of the federal government’s efforts to placate critics, particularly within the international community. However, members of the disbanded Cambodian National Salvation Party are divided on whether to make the request, with many against following Hun Sen’s principles and hoping the international community will increase pressure on Hun Sen.
The split within the opposition can also be fueled by rivalry between factions loyal to the 2 former party leaders, and there may be a widespread belief that Hun Sen – one in all the region’s shrewdest political players – favors factionalism.
Kong Korm, 77, and his son were members of the Cambodian National Salvation Party, but in recent months they’ve publicly expressed differences with their colleagues.
