Cambodian opposition politician convicted of inciting social disorder gets early prison release

Sun Chanthy, a prominent Cambodian opposition politician and former leader of the Nation Power Party, was granted early release from prison on February 25, 2026, following a royal pardon. Arrested in May 2024 after returning from Japan, he had been convicted for inciting social disorder through Facebook posts criticizing the government’s welfare policies. In December 2024, he was sentenced to two years in prison, fined $1,000, and banned from political participation.

His release from Pursat province was confirmed by authorities, and he has returned to his home in Kampong Thom. The pardon, though officially from the king, was likely government-initiated, raising questions about whether the political ban is lifted. Human rights group Licadho sees his release as a hopeful sign of political reconciliation.

Chanthy previously led the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party and joined the Candlelight Party, which was barred from the 2023 general election. He later co-founded the Nation Power Party. His political future within the party remains uncertain, pending clarification of the pardon’s terms. The Cambodian government continues to face criticism for targeting opposition figures through the judicial system.