Former Opposition Figure Says Cambodia Would Benef | RSS.com
A former senior opposition official has said Cambodia stands to gain significantly if the government releases veteran opposition leader Kem Sokha and other jailed political and civil society figures.
Son Chhay, a former lawmaker from the now dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, said freeing Kem Sokha, along with Candlelight Party vice president Thach Setha, political activists, environmental campaigners, and detained union leaders, would bring substantial benefits to the country.
Writing on social media on Thursday, Son Chhay, who now serves as vice president of the Khmer Will Party, said one key advantage would be easing international pressure and improving Cambodia’s image on the global stage.
He argued that such a move could also promote national reconciliation. According to Son Chhay, releasing detainees could serve as a message of unity, helping to reduce domestic political tensions and rebuild trust among voters.
He added that reducing international pressure could provide Phnom Penh with valuable leverage in negotiations with Western countries, including the United States and members of the European Union. Improved diplomatic ties, he said, could translate into economic benefits.
Son Chhay also suggested that demonstrating progress on human rights and democracy would strengthen the legitimacy of the government led by Hun Manet in the eyes of the international community.
Separately, regional geopolitical analyst Seng Vanly wrote on February 18 that Cambodia’s political landscape remains uncertain at the start of 2026, particularly in light of the case against Kem Sokha. The opposition figure was sentenced in 2023 to 27 years under house arrest on charges widely criticised by rights groups.
Seng Vanly said keeping Kem Sokha under such restrictions continues to damage the government’s international standing and creates what he described as a legitimacy gap. He warned that this could affect trade preferences and relations with Western countries, which are key export markets for Cambodia.
He argued that releasing Kem Sokha could help restore diplomatic and economic ties with the United States and the European Union. That, he said, would be a positive signal for efforts to fully reinstate Cambodia’s preferential trade access under the Everything But Arms scheme and to avoid the risk of higher United States tariffs.
Civil society data released recently indicate that Kem Sokha is among 96 people described as unjustly detained, including opposition party officials, political activists, social campaigners, and human rights defenders.
The Cambodian government has consistently maintained that legal proceedings against opposition figures are conducted in accordance with the law.
