U.S. State Department's spokesman Sean McCormack says in a statement that the U.S. welcomes the February 5th decision by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni to pardon Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy and opposition parliamentarian Cheam Channy.
He says the U.S. hopes that the king's decision presents movement toward a strengthened democracy in Cambodia. He says that the U.S. looks forward to the return of Sam Rainsy and the full resumption of the role of the opposition in the political dialogue of Cambodia.
A South East Asia Amnesty International official welcomes Mr. Cheam Channy's release from military prison.
He says that he welcomes Mr. Cheam Channy's release, the opposition lawmaker who was detained because of his peaceful expression of opinion, and that he hopes that this issue marks the end of using the court sentencing for political gain, and to silence political opponents.