Phnom Penh Municipal Court has granted the Sam Rainsy Party youth movement permission to gather in the capital’s Democracy Park to voice its calls for the king to pardon political prisoners, but said it is up to the Ministry of Interior to decide whether they can take a petition to the Royal Palace on Thursday.

“We’re yet to receive a response from the [ministry], but I am committed to submitting the petition to the king,” Soung Sophorn, executive director of the movement said. He sent a letter to the municipal governor on October 30 asking for 170 NGO workers, students and factory workers to be able to march. 

To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at [email protected]