Hun Sen Pardons Detained Cambodia Opposition Leader Kem Sokha Cambodia's acting head of state and influential figure in national politics, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, has pardoned opposition leader Kem Sokha.
On the surface, this move appears to be a gesture of goodwill from the regime, but closer examination reveals it is more about maintaining stability than genuinely addressing Cambodia's deep seated democratic issues.
Hun Sen's nearly four decade rule has been marked by a crackdown on opposition voices. During his tenure, many political opponents were convicted of crimes with dubious evidence.