King Norodom Sihamoni on May 20 granted political rehabilitation to Pol Ham and Phan Chansak, former senior officials of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Pol Ham and Phan Chansak submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior on May 17 for political rehabilitation after being banned from politics for five years by verdict of the Supreme Court of Cambodia.

Chhim Kan, director of the interior ministry’s department of associations and political parties, said that as of May 20, a total of 24 former CNRP officials had been rehabilitated by the King.

The Post could not reach Ham for comment on May 20, but Chansak said on May 18 that the application for political rehabilitation was due to his desire to re-enter politics after having his political rights suspended for three and a half years.

Chansak said he will join the newly established Cambodia Reform Party founded by former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrath.

Chanrath, a former national assembly member from Takeo for the CNRP, said there was no point for former CNRP officials waiting around for a political solution that will revive the party.

"Politicians should understand that they cannot wait any longer and there is no way out but to apply for the right to participate in the next elections," he said, referring to the commune and general elections in 2022 and 2023 respectively.