Cambodian lawmakers pass measure to ease political ban
Posted December 12, 2018 8:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s Parliament has passed legislation that could allow a five-year ban on political activity by top opposition politicians to be lifted.
Thursday’s action was the latest in a low-key charm offensive to improve relations with Western nations that accuse Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government of suppressing human and democratic rights.
The main point of contention has been this year’s general election, which critics charge was neither free nor fair because the only credible opposition party had been dissolved and its candidates barred from politics.
The legislature’s action would allow the 118 top members of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party to apply to have their bans lifted.
However, there would be conditions to restoration of political rights that some opposition politicians have already rejected.
The Associated Press
