Cambodia freed opposition leader Kem Sokha from house arrest on Sunday, while the EU considers cutting preferential trade terms to punish the country for its prime minister’s crackdown on his opponents
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia lifted house arrest restrictions on opposition leader Kem Sokha on Sunday, more than two years after he was charged with treason, but the charges remain and he is banned from politics and from leaving the country.
“I expect today’s decision to be the first step, but I, as well as many other Cambodians who have lost political freedom, still need real solutions and justice.” The Phnom Penh Municipal Court said in a statement that Kem Sokha could leave his house, but that he could not engage in political activity or leave the country.
“Still it is a positive gesture on the part of the Hun Sen regime. But it is only a small step toward the right direction,” Rainsy told Reuters in Malaysia. He had yet to speak to Kem Sokha, he said. More than 50 people have been arrested in recent weeks since Rainsy said he planned to return home after fleeing in 2015 from a defamation conviction he says was political.
The crackdown on Cambodia’s opposition prompted the European Union to reconsider trade preferences granted under an “Everything But Arms” trade program for least-developed countries. It is due to take a decision on next steps this week.
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