PHNOM PENH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni has granted political rights to two banned former opposition members.
In a royal decree signed on Tuesday and publicized on Wednesday, the monarch said he restored the political rights for former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) adviser Kong Korm and his son Kong Bora, a former CNRP lawmaker.
"Samdech Techo Hun Sen, prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, must take responsibility to implement this royal decree from the day of signature," the king wrote.
The restoration of their political freedom came after the kingdom's parliament amended last month the Law on Political Parties to allow banned politicians to re-enter politics.
Under the amended law, King Sihamoni can pardon banned politicians at the request of the prime minister.
Kong Korm, 77, and Kong Bora, 44, requested the king through the prime minister last week to have their political rights reinstated.
The father and son were among the 118 CNRP politicians who were barred from politics for five years by the Supreme Court in November 2017 after the court dissolved the party following the arrest of party president Kem Sokha on "treason" charges.
Kem Sokha, 65, is currently on bail at his home in capital Phnom Penh awaiting trial.
