Self-Exiled ‘Terrorist’ Sets Date For Return, Plans Border Trip

Political hopeful and self-exiled dissident Sourn Serey Ratha said Monday that he will make his return to Cambodia after spending years abroad on October 1, in time to mark the anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreement with a trip to the country’s contentious border with Vietnam.

Mr. Serey Ratha, who was convicted in absentia on dubious charges of plotting against the government and obstructing elections earlier this year, was pardoned by a royal decree in July at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had personally branded him a terrorist.

The pardon cleared the way for his return and the registration of his Khmer Power Party (KPP) in July.

Contacted Monday in Thailand, Mr. Serey Ratha said he would postpone his arrival if his third demand—the pardon and release of the three other men convicted with him in January who are serving their sentences in Prey Sar prison—was not met.

“I will try to advocate for their release on October 1,” he said. “If they are not released by October 1, I will not return.”

In July, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said the three would be pardoned “later.” On Monday, he referred the question to Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, who could not be reached.

Mr. Serey Ratha said that arriving on October 1 would give him time to prepare a trip to Cambodia’s border with Vietnam on October 23 to highlight his long-running claims of Vietnamese encroachment.

“Only the Paris Peace Agreement can resolve the political disagreement in Cambodia,” he said. “And only the Paris Peace Agreement can help the Cambodian country become a democracy.”

The dissident said he also planned to make a tour of his new party’s offices in the provinces and invite all the political parties in the country without any seats in parliament to join a grand alliance to push for reforms, including an independent National Election Committee, popularly chosen National Assembly candidates, and term limits for the prime minister.

(Additional reporting by Khuon Narim)

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