Has an Opposition Politician Still Banned from Political Activity?
As the 2022 commune election in Cambodia is coming in next month, Uch Sereyyuth – a former politician of the Cambodian National Rescue Party dissolved in late 2017 – claimed that he resumed his political activities while some media and social media claimed he had been under a five-year-political ban thus far. The claim has been multiple shared by social media users along with comments and reactions. However, after our investigation, we prove the claim is false.
Social Media Claim
A local media reported a few days ago that Uch Sereyyuth – former lawmaker of the Cambodian main opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) dissolved in 2017 – resumes his political activity with Candle Light Party while he has been still under the five-year political ban. The local media also posted some photos showing the politician wearing a white cloth printed with the logo of the Candle Light Party and participating in a meeting hosted by the party.
The claim has been shared multiple times by social media users along with a mixture of comments and reactions.
Below is the capture of the claim made by the Facebook Page TN TV on May 16:
“Can a politician who has been banned from political action resume his political activity without being lifted from the ban? […]”
A similar claim was posted on social media by another Facebook user leading to many shares, comments, and reactions. For the full claim, please read here.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began verifying the claim by reviewing the number of the CNRP politicians lifted from the five-year-political ban and interviewing sources relevant to this claim. Our verification leads us to find out the truth below.
Some Facebook users reacted to the claim by revealing a royal decree showing Uch Sereyuth was lifted from the political ban on April 01 this year.
Below is the royal decree issued by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni allowing Sereyyuth to resume his political action from April 01.
Responding to inquiry from Fact Crescendo Cambodia on May 16, Chin Malin – a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice – confirmed the royal decree, saying the opposition politician could resume his political activity.
The claim above said Sereyyuth in cloth printed with the logo of the Candle Light Party (CLP) participated in an extraordinary convene of the CLP organized on last Sunday, May 15.
CLP’s spokesman Thach Setha told Fact Crescendo Cambodia that he saw Sereyyuth in the convene and that he was assigned to coordinate the party leaders in Kampong Cham, a province he represented in the 2013 national election.
Yet, Thach Setha added his party had not decided what position would be given to Sereyyuth, saying the party is concentrating on the next commune election coming in June this year.
Talking on the phone with Fact Crescendo Cambodia, Sereyytuh clarified he submitted a request in March this year and got the political ban lifted in April. The CNRP lawmaker representing Kampong Cham added he submitted the request to the Ministry of Interior.
Khieu Sopheak – a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior – confirmed the lift of the political ban for Sereyyuth. Sopheak also sent us the picture of the royal decree allowing political rights for the opposition politician.
The political ban against Sereyyuth was lifted after a request from Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to the royal decree seen by the fact-checker of Fact Crescendo Cambodia.
Mr. Sereyyuth became an elected lawmaker representing Kampong Cham province after the 2013 national election. After CNRP was dissolved by the country’s Supreme Court in November 2017, Sereyyuth and other 116 CNRP political figures have been banned from politics for five years.
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim mentioned above is false. The former CNRP politician Uch Sereyyuth has been lifted from the five-year political ban since April 02. Then, he resumed his political activity with the Candle Light Party for the 2022 commune election. Thus, Mr. Sereyyuth does not violate the political ban.
Title:Has an Opposition Politician Still Banned from Political Activity?
Fact Check By: Jay UdomResult: False
