The Justice Ministry on Wednesday refused to simply accept a letter urging it to expedite a response to a petition for retrial and reinstatement of political rights filed by Rong Chhun, a former adviser to the Nation Energy Social gathering, a celebration member mentioned.
Promenade Chantha, head of the occasion’s ladies’s motion, mentioned the ministry’s administrative workplace rejected the letter, citing “fallacious administrative procedures” and telling the occasion to attend for a response to Chhun’s unique petition, filed final month.
“It isn’t proper as a result of they haven’t responded,” she mentioned. “That’s why we went to submit one other letter urging them to expedite,”
Ministry spokesperson Em Chan Makara mentioned the ministry welcomes complaints from residents and follows its commonplace scope of labor. He didn’t verify whether or not Wednesday’s letter was formally obtained, however confirmed that Chhun’s unique petition for a retrial and reinstatement of his political rights was.
“All requests from residents are included within the monitoring system and dealt with in line with regular administrative procedures, topic to overview by specialists and complete overview,” mentioned Chan Makara. “Due to this fact, we ask that related events perceive the work procedures that require time to conduct.”
Chhun mentioned the refusal mirrored “political bias” and that ministry officers have been obligated to serve the general public.
“It has been one month and the ministry has given no response,” he mentioned.
The Supreme Court docket in June upheld Chhun’s 2025 conviction for incitement to disturb social order over public feedback about on-line rip-off operations in Cambodia and the nation’s border with Vietnam. It put aside his four-year jail sentence, lowered a lifetime ban on his political rights to 5 years, and positioned him below three years of judicial supervision, which bars him from leaving Phnom Penh or attending public gatherings.
Opposition figures and rights teams have denounced the case as politically motivated. The federal government has mentioned it respects the separation of the courts.
Chhun mentioned he’ll submit a separate letter this month to King Norodom Sihamoni in search of reinstatement of his political rights. Nation Energy Social gathering members tried to take action final month however have been barred from submitting the request to Royal Palace employees by its police unit.
“I proceed looking, studying books, courtesy guests, offering session to residents and younger individuals,” mentioned Chhun. “Though I can’t go to the provinces, I can work from Phnom Penh.”
He added that he plans to return to his position within the Cambodian Confederation of Union this month and in addition as an adviser to the Cambodian Impartial Trainer Affiliation.
