King Norodom Sihamoni has signed off on a Royal pardon, which will
allow opposition leader Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia ahead of the
national election on July 28, according to a copy of the pardon obtained
Friday.
Opposition
leader Sam Rainsy addresses a crowd of supporters during the last
national election in July 2008 in Phnom Penh. (Charles Fox)
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Prime Minister Hun
Sen had signed off on the royal pardon moments after learning that his
Father, Hun Neang, 89, had passed away in the early hours of the
morning.
“He [Prime Minister Hun Sen] accepted and signed this morning
although he is mourning his father, but he had to make this decision,”
Mr. Siphan said.
A copy of the pardon signed by King Sihamoni on Friday states that
the royal pardon is “effective and ready for implementation from the
date of the royal signature.”
Mr. Rainsy has been in self-imposed exile since 2009 avoiding an
11-year prison sentence on charges of disinformation and destruction of
public property that rights groups have continuously said were
politically motivated.
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