Cambodia's PM Names Opposition Leader's Daughter as Special Envoy

In a rare gesture toward the political opposition, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed Kem Monovithya, the daughter of pardoned opposition figure Kem Sokha, as a special envoy to Prime Minister Hun Manet. The royal decree, issued on Monday, grants her a rank equivalent to a minister, though it did not specify the exact scope of her duties.

The appointment comes at the request of Hun Manet and marks an unusual step in a country where critics have long accused the ruling Cambodian People's Party of suppressing dissent. Western governments and human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the persecution of opposition figures, allegations the government denies.

Kem Monovithya, 44, was a member of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was banned in 2017. Her father, Kem Sokha, was arrested that same year on charges of conspiring with the United States to overthrow then-Prime Minister Hun Sen, the current premier's father. He was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 27 years of house arrest for treason, a charge he rejected. In May, the king pardoned him, just weeks after his appeal against the conviction failed.

The move follows a series of public signals indicating a thaw. On Friday, Hun Manet posted a photo on Facebook of himself alongside Kem Monovithya, calling her his "sister" and suggesting that as a new generation of politicians, they could collaborate for the country's benefit, particularly on the international stage. A day earlier, Hun Sen, now president of the Senate, shared a picture of himself shaking hands with Kem Sokha at a meeting where Kem Monovithya was also present.