| English.news.cn 2013-07-13 13:13:19 |
   
 
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PHNOM PENH, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Granting a royal pardon to Sam
Rainsy, leader-in-exile of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party, was not due to international pressure but Prime Minister Hun
Sen's commitment towards a national unification, a senior government
official said Saturday. "The amnesty for Sam Rainsy on Friday is the
stance of the ( ruling) Cambodian People's Party and the commitment of
Prime Minister Hun Sen towards a national unification and a free, fair,
and democratic election on July 28," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Hor Namhong told reporters after a meeting with Jeff Daigle,
deputy chief of the Mission of U.S. Embassy to Cambodia.
The pardon came after the United States and others had said the exclusion of Sam Rainsy from the elections would call into question the polls' legitimacy.
"We do not need intervention, pressure, lesson from any foreigners; we can master the issue and solve it out by ourselves," he said.
The clemency was welcomed widely, including ASEAN, the United States, New Zealand and Pakistan, he added.
In the meeting, Jeff Daigle told Hor Namhong that the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday welcomed the amnesty for Sam Rainsy, allowing him to return from self-imposed exile in France to take part in the upcoming general elections.
King Norodom Sihamoni on Friday signed off a royal decree to grant a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen wrote in his request letter that he asked the King to grant the pardon to Sam Rainsy based on the spirit of national unification and reconciliation, and to ensure a free and fair election.
Sam Rainsy, 62, fled Cambodia in late 2009 before the court sentenced him to 11 years in prison in absentia for two charges -- removing border poles and publishing a false map of the border with Vietnam and accusing deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong of being a member of the Democratic Kampuchea.
He announced on Saturday that he would return to Cambodia next Friday after receiving the pardon. "I have an honor and satisfaction to inform Cambodian people that I will arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport on July 19, 2013 at 09:05 a.m. by Thai Airways," Sam Rainsy wrote in his Facebook page.
Eight political parties will compete in the elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters.
Two main parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodia National Rescue Party led by Sam Rainsy.
Hun Sen's party is widely expected to win the majority in the forthcoming elections.
Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the post until he's 74.
The country holds a general election in every 5 years. During the last election in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group totally gained 29 seats.
The pardon came after the United States and others had said the exclusion of Sam Rainsy from the elections would call into question the polls' legitimacy.
"We do not need intervention, pressure, lesson from any foreigners; we can master the issue and solve it out by ourselves," he said.
The clemency was welcomed widely, including ASEAN, the United States, New Zealand and Pakistan, he added.
In the meeting, Jeff Daigle told Hor Namhong that the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday welcomed the amnesty for Sam Rainsy, allowing him to return from self-imposed exile in France to take part in the upcoming general elections.
King Norodom Sihamoni on Friday signed off a royal decree to grant a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen wrote in his request letter that he asked the King to grant the pardon to Sam Rainsy based on the spirit of national unification and reconciliation, and to ensure a free and fair election.
Sam Rainsy, 62, fled Cambodia in late 2009 before the court sentenced him to 11 years in prison in absentia for two charges -- removing border poles and publishing a false map of the border with Vietnam and accusing deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong of being a member of the Democratic Kampuchea.
He announced on Saturday that he would return to Cambodia next Friday after receiving the pardon. "I have an honor and satisfaction to inform Cambodian people that I will arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport on July 19, 2013 at 09:05 a.m. by Thai Airways," Sam Rainsy wrote in his Facebook page.
Eight political parties will compete in the elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters.
Two main parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodia National Rescue Party led by Sam Rainsy.
Hun Sen's party is widely expected to win the majority in the forthcoming elections.
Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the post until he's 74.
The country holds a general election in every 5 years. During the last election in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group totally gained 29 seats.
Editor:
Fu Peng
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