Cambodian PM says he has no rights to free opposition prisoners

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that he has no rights to order the court to release the eleven opposition party members and activists, who were sentenced last week to prison terms of up to 20 years on insurrection charges.

Hun Sen said the opposition party should not come to him for help, but seek smart lawyers to defend them at the Appeal Court.

"I have no rights to intervene in this matter because it is not under my power," the prime minister said.

"When the verdict comes into force, it will be my rights (to consider pardoning them or not), but I have to examine it as well because they attacked others nearly to dead."

A Cambodian court on Thursday sentenced Meach Sovannara, media director of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, and two party members to 20 years in prison for leading an insurrection during an anti-government protest on July 15, 2014 in Phnom Penh, while the other eight party activists were sentenced to seven years in prison for participating in the insurrection.

The protest at that time turned violent, leaving at least 39 security officers injured.

The prime minister said the convictions were too lenient with them, saying that under the kingdom's law, the charge of "leading an insurrection" could carry a prison term between 20 to 30 years, while the charge of "joining an insurrection" could be jailed between seven and 15 years.

However, critics say the sentences were "politically motivated". Endi