A high-ranking official from the Cambodia People's Party (CPP) said it's up to the president of the opposition party, Sam Rainsy, to return home to participate in the upcoming elections in Cambodia.
Answering reporters' question on Monday, Vice President of the National Assembly and also CPP honorary president Heng Samrin said CPP and FUNCINPEC did not forbid Sam Rainsy from returning to Cambodia, did not kick him out of the country, and therefore it's up to the opposition party president to decide whether or not he wants to return home and participate in future elections.
Heng Samrin said Sam Rainsy and Chea Poch still have the rights to participate in the national assembly meetings but will have to answer to the court whenever it summons them.
The parliamentary immunity of the three opposition party members, Sam Rainsy, Chea Poch and Cheam Channy were lifted earlier this year when the national assembly voted to strip them so that the Phnom Penh courts can questions them in lawsuits against them.
Cheam Channy is in jail. Chea Poch recently returned to Cambodia while Sam Rainsy is still living in exile in Europe.