BREAKING NEWS:
King Grants Amnesty to Release Former Opposition Senior Official Meach Sovannara and 13 Others
28/08/18 00:58

[Phnom Penh] His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, on August 27, 2018 issued a royal decree ordering the release of Meach Sovannara and 13 other opposition members.
Sovannara and 13 others were arrested in 2014 for leading violent actions at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh which caused injuries to 30 of Daun Penh’s police officers.
Sovannara was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and the other 13 activists from 7-20 years in jail.

Senior court officials have confirmed that the release of all 14 at 9:30 pm was delayed due to security reasons; there were so many people in front of the jail that the release had to be delayed.


http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/e ... 29-05.html

that is huge news-- I wonder if the King is going to become more involved in political life?

The between the lines is interesting.

Reported first on Freshnews..

Plus all of this happening after the overwhelming election results.

Is it really the king acting independently?

No. Every pardon he makes is directed by the government. HE had already indicated the pardons were coming.

HE controls the media, purged all political opposition, and has both countries in the east and the west handing him money, what is there left to be afraid of? The barking dogs will be allowed to bark. These guys were imprisoned around 2014? 4 years in prison is a reminder that if they bark too much, back they will go.

Cambodia frees 14 government critics
28 August 2018
The 14, who are all members or supporters of Cambodia’s now dissolved main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), were released from Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison.

They were convicted in 2014 of insurrection after they forcibly tried to reopen the country’s only designated protest venue, “Freedom Park”, in July that year and were handed jail terms ranging from seven to 20 years.

HE has requested pardons for 23 people since Aug. 17.

Sebastian Strangio, author of the book “HE’s Cambodia”, said the pardons served a dual function of easing domestic political tensions and presenting Western critics with some marginal signs of democratic progress.

“This does not signify any substantial change in HE’s mentality,” Strangio told Reuters.

“If the CPP faces a serious challenge before the next election, history suggests that HE will do whatever he needs to do in order to maintain his hold on power,” he added.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said that the recent pardons were a “humanitarian” act by HE and not a response to international criticism.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-camb ... SKCN1LD0AR

At this rate, Ricketson will be on streets by sun up.

epidemiks wrote:At this rate, Ricketson will be on streets by sun up.

HE is on an anti-western crusade. Ricketson is the political football. Will see how the match plays out.