Justice Ministry Rejects Petition Expediting Retrial for Rong Chhun

The Justice Ministry on Wednesday refused to accept a letter urging it to expedite a response to a petition for retrial and reinstatement of political rights filed by Rong Chhun, a former adviser to the Nation Power Party, a party member said. Prom Chantha, head of the party’s women’s movement, said the ministry’s administrative office rejected the letter, citing “wrong administrative procedures” and telling the party to wait for a response to Chhun’s original petition, filed last month. “It isn’t right because they haven’t responded,” she said. “That’s why we went to submit another letter urging them to expedite,” Ministry spokesperson Em Chan Makara said the ministry welcomes complaints from citizens and follows its standard scope of work. He did not confirm whether Wednesday’s letter was formally received, but confirmed that Chhun’s original petition for a retrial and reinstatement of his political rights was. “All requests from citizens are included in the tracking system and handled according to normal administrative procedures, subject to review by experts and comprehensive review,” said Chan Makara. “Therefore, we ask that relevant parties understand the work procedures that require time to conduct.” Chhun said the refusal reflected “political bias” and that ministry officials were obligated to serve the public. “It has been one month and the ministry has given no response,” he said. The Supreme Court in June upheld Chhun’s 2025 conviction for incitement to disturb social order over public comments about online scam operations in Cambodia and the country’s border with Vietnam. It set aside his four-year prison sentence, reduced a lifetime ban on his political rights to five years, and placed him under three years of judicial supervision, which bars him from leaving Phnom Penh or attending public gatherings. Opposition figures and rights groups have denounced the case as politically motivated. The government has said it respects the separation of the courts. Chhun said he will submit a separate letter this month to King Norodom Sihamoni seeking reinstatement of his political rights. Nation Power Party members attempted to do so last month but were barred from submitting the request to Royal Palace staff by its police unit. “I continue searching, reading books, courtesy visitors, providing consultation to citizens and young people,” said Chhun. “Although I cannot go to the provinces, I can work from Phnom Penh.” He added that he plans to return to his role in the Cambodian Confederation of Union this month and also as an adviser to the Cambodian Independent Teacher Association.