Cambodia’s king has granted a royal pardon to former opposition leader Kem Sokha, lifting his 27‑year treason sentence just weeks after his failed appeal.

Sokha, 72, co‑founder of the now‑dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), had been under house arrest since his conviction in March 2023. He was accused of conspiring with foreign powers to overthrow then‑prime minister Hun Sen, a charge widely condemned abroad. The United States described the case as built on “fabricated conspiracy theories”.

A decree issued on Monday confirmed the pardon, though it applies only to the sentence itself. Sokha’s lawyer, Pheng Heng, welcomed the move as a “positive step” but stressed that his client remains stripped of political rights, including the ability to vote or hold office.

The decision comes after a Phnom Penh court last month upheld Sokha’s conviction, extending his house arrest and imposing a five‑year travel ban once the term ended. His case has been one of the most high‑profile examples of Cambodia’s sweeping crackdown on dissent, which intensified after the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in 2017.

Since then, many opposition figures have fled the country, leaving Sokha among the few still inside Cambodia. His trial and conviction drew sharp criticism from rights groups, who argued the government was using the courts to eliminate rivals and entrench the Cambodian People’s Party’s dominance.

Hun Sen, who ruled for nearly four decades before handing power to his son Hun Manet in 2023, remains a powerful figure as Senate president. It was Hun Sen who signed the pardon decree on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni, currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

While the pardon eases Sokha’s immediate punishment, it does not restore his role in politics. For Cambodia, the move raises questions about whether the government is seeking to soften its image internationally, or simply closing a chapter while keeping opposition voices firmly sidelined.

-2026-05-26

For reference and to put this into more context-

The pardon was granted as Sokha’s 101-year-old mother remains seriously ill. (She is in the photo in bed on the left. A humanitarian decision?

Following the signing, Mr Hun Sen ordered Prime Minister Hun Manet to execute the royal decree immediately. Mr Hun Manet later issued a brief message, stating that the move was another step toward strengthening national unity.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501905138/kem-sokha-granted-royal-pardon-amid-mothers-illness/

Just théâtre.

But a little good thing for Sikhs.

On 5/26/2026 at 8:40 AM, geovalin said:

Sokha’s lawyer, Pheng Heng, welcomed the move as a “positive step” but stressed that his client remains stripped of political rights, including the ability to vote or hold office.

That's actually a good thing, as he'd just stir trouble again. May he enjoy his retirement in peace and quiet.