‘Taking political rights from Hun Sen foolish’

not permitted the CNRP to operate again and Hun Sen is continuing to keep president Kem Sokha hostage?

“People who agree to take their political rights from Hun Sen and resume their careers or create a new party become foolish in accordance with Hun Sen’s intention,” he stressed.

However, pro-Kem Sokha CNRP leaders later issued a statement hitting out at Rainsy’s “provocative words “.

“This is an unethical and vile action by Sam Rainsy after he conducted a party coup in early December and declared himself as the nonsense acting president of the CNRP at a world conference going against the party’s bylaws.

“CNRP would like to condemn the inciteful and provocative words of Sam Rainsy calling the people requesting a pardon betrayers of the party,” Wednesday’s statement said.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen warned that barred politicians could face prison as well as have a chance of having their bans lifted when the proposed amendment takes effect.

“People need to bear in mind that those opposing the Supreme Court’s verdict will not get political rights and will face jail because a violation of a Supreme Court verdict will result in a sentence of two-anda-half-years in prison after the law change takes effect,” the prime minister told nearly 20,000 garment workers in Kampong Speu province’s Samrong Tong district on Wednesday.

The prime minister explained that the amended Law on Political Parties means dissolved parties and their banned leaders would have recourse to request a pardon as long as they were deemed to have respected the court’s ruling.

“The remaining option after a study is that there is an option relating to the right of the prime minister to request the King to lift the ban on taking part in politics,” he said.

He said banned politicians would have to first directly send a written petition to him or Sar Kheng, the Minister of Interior, and they then could make a request to the King.