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Senate President Hun Sen attended the funeral of former opposition chief Kem Sokha’s mom on Friday, marking a uncommon public look alongside the previous rival whose celebration mounted the strongest electoral problem to his decades-long rule.
Sokha’s mom, Sao Nget, died on the age of 101 late Wednesday, simply months after her son acquired a partial royal pardon that lifted his 27-year home arrest sentence for a treason conviction however left intact lifetime political and five-year overseas journey bans.
The funeral was held in Phnom Penh earlier than the procession was scheduled to journey to Nget’s hometown in Takeo province later Friday for her burial, in keeping with Sokha’s lawyer, Meng Sopheary.
Sopheary confirmed Sokha’s earlier statements that he plans to briefly enter the Buddhist monkhood, a standard follow in Cambodia, significantly following the loss of life of an in depth member of the family.
Sokha is anticipated to be ordained Saturday afternoon at Wat Prek Prang in Kandal province.
Hun Sen and his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, who succeeded him in 2023, additionally despatched condolence messages to Sokha and his household.
Meach Sovannara, president of the New Technology Social gathering, mentioned Hun Sen’s attendance was a constructive signal of restoring the “tradition of dialogue” between veteran politicians to advertise nationwide reconciliation.
Sokha additionally attended the funeral of Hun Sen’s mother-in-law, Bun Seangly, in 2020, the place the 2 reportedly spoke at size whereas Sokha was going through treason costs.
The 72-year-old former chief of the Cambodia Nationwide Rescue Social gathering (CNRP) was arrested in 2017 after authorities accused him of conspiring with the USA to overthrow Hun Sen’s authorities, allegations he denied and rights teams and U.N. specialists described as politically motivated. Weeks later, the Supreme Courtroom dissolved the CNRP, and Sokha was convicted in 2023.
Sokha has largely saved a low profile since receiving his partial pardon, and his continued ban from political exercise has fueled questions over his future as Cambodia heads towards native elections subsequent yr.
