Cambodia opposition: Held rights workers to be released

By Lauren Crothers

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AA) - Representatives from Cambodia’s opposition party claimed Wednesday that four human rights workers and an election official would be released from prison before the end of the year, after languishing in prison for months on bribery charges that critics say are politically motivated.

Kem Monovithya, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) deputy director-general of public affairs, wrote on her official Twitter account that an “imprisoned opposition commune chief, 4 rights workers and 1 election official will be free before end of this month.”

The six all became targets by the court after recorded conversations between CNRP vice president Kem Sokha -- Monovithya’s father -- and his mistress were leaked earlier this year.

As a corruption probe was opened into comments about the procurement of property, the mistress sought the assistance of local human rights group Adhoc.

But four of those staff, plus the deputy-secretary of the National Election Committee, were arrested and imprisoned ahead of trial.

A commune chief tried for allegedly offering money to the mistress’s mother was jailed for five years Monday.

Contacted by phone Wednesday, a CNRP spokesman would not divulge specifics of Monovithya’s claim to Anadolu Agency, saying instead that people would have to “wait and see; we try and find a solution to release the people who were imprisoned in a politically motivated case.”

Asked if there had been or would be any concessions made on the part of the opposition, he said: “We cannot tell you the whole story, but are doing our best to solve the problem and the political solution will occur.”

The announcement also coincided with the appearance of Sokha in the National Assembly for the first time since he was pardoned by King Norodom Sihamoni -- at Prime Minister Hun Sen’s request -- last week.

Sokha had been in hiding since May to avoid arrest and imprisonment after he was convicted, in absentia, of failing to appear in a “prostitution” case that also stemmed from the leaked recordings.

A video posted to his official Facebook page showed the lawmaker signing in to parliament and addressing the room once the session was underway.

He was flanked by his CNRP colleagues, who ended their own boycotts of the National Assembly last month.

Interior Ministry spokesman General Keo Vannthan could not be reached Wednesday.