Former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrath (centre) said on Sunday that he was yet to make a decision on requesting a royal pardon. Heng Chivoan
The Ministry of Interior has released guidance for banned politicians who wish to request a return to politics after the Amendment to the Law on Political Parties was signed off by King Norodom Sihamoni in January.
According to a two-page document dated Thursday and issued by Sok Setha, secretary of state at the ministry, “those who wish to get rehabilitation without having to serve the [full five-year term of the] court’s order could follow these five steps. They will have to submit a request to the Ministry of Interior, providing proof of identification and the court’s ruling”.
The directive is intended for any politician whose involvement in politics is banned by the Supreme Court.
The statement instructed those who want to see their ban revoked to submit their requests individually.
“After reviewing their request, the Ministry of Interior would forward it to Prime Minister Hun Sen so that he can ask for the King’s approval to have the ban lifted,” it said, citing the amended Article 45.
It added that only those granted a royal pardon would be able to re-enter the political arena.
Ministry of Interior spokesperson Phat Sophanit said the directive was intended to clear the way for those who wished to request a pardon.
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesperson Sok Eysan stressed that requesting a “rehabilitation of political rights” as a group is impossible.
“For example, if a package of 10 people obtained a pardon from the King but one of them rejected it, what would happen? That would restart the whole process. It would be disrespectful to the King,” he said.
Former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrath said on Sunday that he was yet to make a decision on requesting a royal pardon as he was “waiting to see if the ministry’s procedures would change”.
He said two issues had been holding him back from making such a request – pressure from CNRP “acting president” Sam Rainsy and criticism from the party’s officials and supporters.
“We are under pressure from the leader of the party. Rainsy put pressure on our colleagues, calling those who requested a return of their political rights ‘betrayers of the party and the will of the people’. This is one of the biggest obstacles we are facing,” he said.
Chanrath insisted that royal pardons as a package could be possible if the Ministry of Interior prepared a list enabling them “to know who had stayed in the country and who had respected the verdict of the Supreme Court”.
“Those who are in the US, Canada or Australia and claiming refugee status there … it is reasonable that they would reject [the chance of a pardon]. But I believe that those who are in [Cambodia] wouldn’t because they need it to resume their political activities,” he said.
The Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017 and banned 118 high-ranking officials from political activity for five years.
As of press time, the number of banned opposition officials stood at 116, following the “rehabilitation” of former CNRP adviser Kong Korm and his son Kong Bora. Cheam Channy, a former CNRP lawmaker, passed away in October aged 57.
