Kem Monovithya Meets Hun Manet After Father’s Pardon

Kem Monovithya Meets Hun Manet After Father’s Pardon

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14, 2026 — Kem Monovithya, daughter of former opposition leader Kem Sokha, met Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on Friday, in her first reported meeting with the Cambodian leader following her father’s pardon and subsequent easing of restrictions.

According to a message posted on Hun Manet’s Facebook page, Kem Monovithya was permitted to meet and hold discussions with the prime minister in their capacity as members of a new generation of politicians.

Hun Manet said there were areas where the two could work together in the interests of Cambodia, particularly on the international stage.

The meeting comes after Kem Sokha was pardoned on May 25, 2026, following years of legal restrictions stemming from his conviction on charges related to an alleged conspiracy with a foreign power.

Further restrictions on Kem Sokha were eased on July 24, allowing him to travel abroad.

Kem Sokha, a former president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, had previously been sentenced to 27 years in prison. His conviction and restrictions have been a longstanding issue in Cambodia’s political landscape.

The meeting between Hun Manet and Kem Monovithya marks a notable contact between the prime minister and a member of the former opposition leader’s family, and comes amid the government’s broader emphasis on cooperation among Cambodia’s younger political generation.

Hun Manet said the discussion identified areas in which they could cooperate for the country’s interests, with particular attention to Cambodia’s engagement on the international stage.