Phnom Penh (FN), March 17 – Real Khemarin, former lawmaker of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, sent letters to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng requesting to re-enter politics and create a new party, according to Khemarin's separate letters dated 14 March.

"I want to create a new party to race in the 2022-2023 election," Khemarin wrote in the letter.

Senior government official confirmed to Fresh News on Sunday that former lawmaker Khemarin will be rehabilitated today on 17 March; thus, he will be able to re-enter politics.

The amended Article 45 stipulated that “Individual whom the court banned from doing political activities could not create a new party, or participate in any other political parties, or be a candidate for others to vote, or do any activities to support or oppose other parties.

The law added that the banned individual will receive absolute rights to legally participate in political activities when banning expired as determined by the Supreme Court’s verdict, or in the case that individual has been rehabilitated by His Majesty King.

It is worth noting that former CNRP officials in total of 118 were banned from engaging in political activities for five years when the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP on 16 November 2017 for “attempting to overthrow the government through a colour revolution”.

The amendment has so far allowed three former opposition members to re-enter politics. Former top advisor Kong Korm, and lawmaker Kong Bora were rehabilitated in 15 January 2019.

Another opposition member Sim Sovanny, known as Sim Vanny, was also rehabilitated, according to the royal decree dated 2 March 2019.

Khemarin will be the fourth to be rehabilitated. The rehabilitation is widely seen as the government’s move to strengthen democracy and political space.
=FRESH NEWS