Cambodia's royal pardon for opposition leader a step towards reconciliation – UN expert

Surya P. Subedi, Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Cambodia. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN News Centre

15 July 2013 – A United Nations independent expert today welcomed Cambodia's royal pardon of opposition leader Sam Rainsy which was granted ahead of the elections in the country later this month, saying this represented an important step towards reconciliation.

“I was very pleased to learn that the royal pardon was granted by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, at the request of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen,” the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, said.

“I now hope that with this development, the Government will take the necessary action in order to allow Sam Rainsy to play a full part in the national politics of Cambodia.”

Mr. Rainsy, the leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was tried in absentia in January 2010 on charges of destruction of property and racial incitement and sentenced to two years' imprisonment in one case and 10 years' imprisonment in another, and had remained in exile.

Mr. Subedi had previously stressed the importance of a level playing field for all political parties to compete on an equal footing, and had called for a solution to allow Mr. Rainsy to play a full role in Cambodian politics.

“Today I applaud the Royal Government of Cambodia for having taken this important step towards reconciliation, which is in the interests of stronger and deeper democratization of Cambodia,” he added.

Special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

 

UN rights envoy welcomes pardon to Cambodian opposition chief ahead of elections

Source: XINHUA  |   2013-7-15  |  

 

PHNOM PENH, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, welcomed on Monday the granting of a royal pardon to the Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy, just ahead of the elections on July 28.

Sam Rainsy, the leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was tried in absentia in January 2010 on charges of destruction of property and racial incitement and sentenced to two years' imprisonment in one case and 10 years' imprisonment in another, and had remained in exile.

"I was very pleased to learn that the royal pardon was granted by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen," Subedi said in a statement released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office to Cambodia.

"I now hope that with this development, the government will take the necessary action in order to allow Sam Rainsy to play a full part in the national politics of Cambodia," he said.

He underscored that in his last report to the UN Human Rights Council on electoral reform, he had reiterated the importance of a level playing field for all political parties to compete on an equal footing, and had called for political solution to be found to enable Sam Rainsy, as the leader of the opposition, to play a full role in Cambodian politics.

"Today I applaud the royal government of Cambodia for having taken this important step towards reconciliation, which is in the interests of stronger and deeper democratization of Cambodia," he said.

King Norodom Sihamoni on Friday signed a royal decree to grant a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Hun Sen wrote in his request letter that he asked the King to grant the pardon to Sam Rainsy based on the spirit of national unification and reconciliation, and to ensure a free and fair election.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong denied on Saturday that granting a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy was due to pressure from the United States and others.

Sam Rainsy, 62, has lived in exile in France since 2009 to avoid the imprisonment. He announced two days ago that he would return to Cambodia on Friday this week after receiving the pardon.

Eight political parties will compete in the elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters, including the two main parties -- the ruling Cambodian People's Party of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition party led by Sam Rainsy.

Hun Sen's party is widely expected to win the majority in the forthcoming elections.

One of the world's longest-serving leaders, Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and has vowed to stay in the post until he's 74.

The country holds a general election in every five years. During the last election in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group totally gained 29 seats.