Former member of the banned Cambodian National Salvation Party (CNRP) Yim Sinorn has been freed by a court after formally apologizing for a social media post that allegedly insulted the monarch. On March 29, reports UCA News.
On March 28, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court released Sinorn, who was arrested on March 21 along with fellow opposition member Hun Kosal on charges of insulting King Norodom Sihanouk. The court accused him of questioning the king’s good relations with Prime Minister Hun Sen during the recent torch lighting ceremony at the Southeast Asian Games.
“I take this opportunity to apologize to the King and honestly publicly apologize to [премьер-министром] Samdekom Hun Sen”Sinornna told the court, her statement published on the government’s Fresh News outlet.
Sinorn was facing five years in prison if the court found him guilty.
His wife and children also apologized to the king.
Hun Kosal remains in custody
Remember that Cambodia’s law on insulting the monarch was adopted in 2018. Human rights groups have criticized the innovation, saying it could be used to silence government critics.
On 16 March the European Parliament adopted a resolution on human rights in Cambodia urging the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release opposition leader Kem Sohu and all detained opposition activists.
“The largest opposition party, the CNRP, must be immediately reinstated in order to participate in the 2023 elections”says the resolution calling for free and fair elections.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.