Phnom Penh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and 55 members of his party, are set to return to parliament after a yearlong boycott of Hun Sen's ruling party.
An agreement between the prime minister and Rainsy aims to ensure the inclusion of Rainsy among the parliamentarians; the establishment of a commission to study a new electoral law and the release of eight MPs and Rainsy party activists, who were arrested last week on charges of "insurrection", but who were only asking to be allowed hold public gatherings.
Last years' elections were won by Hun Sen's party (Cambodian People's Party), which has dominated political life in the country for about 30 years. Although Rainsy's Party (the Cambodia National Rescue Party CNRP) claimed widespread fraud irregularities, the Election Commission gave victory to Hun Sen. This led the CNPR elected candidates to boycott parliamentary sessions. In addition, the Electoral Commission - very favorable to Hun Sen - banned Rainsy from standing for election, despite the king's pardon and permission to return home, after several years of exile in France. Rainsy went into exile to escape a prison sentence for 12 years, aimed to preclude him from political life and running against Hun Sen.
Rainsy has defended the agreement in front of his supporters, saying that this is the only way to produce a reform of the electoral system and a new date for the elections, now set for 2018.
The agreement was also appreciated by the UN representatives who, however, note that it is "only marks the beginning of the true work of reforming the State institutions".
Hun Sen has dominated politics in Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge dictatorship. While the country has a democratic system, it is submissive to the will of Hun Sen, known for his authoritarian rule and intimidation of the opposition.
