Kem Sokha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kem Sokha
កឹម សុខា
Sokha in 2013
Leader of the Opposition
In office 16 November 2015 – 31 January 2017
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Preceded by	Sam Rainsy
Succeeded by	Position abolished
First Vice President of the National Assembly
In office 26 August 2014 – 30 October 2015
President	Heng Samrin
Preceded by	Nguon Nhel
Succeeded by	You Hockry
Additional positions President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party In office 2 March 2017 – 16 November 2017 Deputy Pol Hom Mu Sochua Eng Chhai Eang Preceded by Sam Rainsy Succeeded by None, party dissolved Vice President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party In office 1 April 2013 – 2 March 2017 President Sam Rainsy Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Pol Hom Mu Sochua Eng Chhai Eang President of the Human Rights Party In office 22 July 2007 – 1 April 2013 Deputy Son Soubert Pen Sovan Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Son Soubert President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights In office 3 October 2002 – 1 May 2007 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Ou Virak Member of the National Assembly In office 24 September 2008 – 3 September 2017 Succeeded by You Hockry Constituency Kampong Cham In office 14 June 1993 – 26 July 1998 Constituency Takéo Member of the Senate In office 1999–2002
Personal details
Born	(1953-06-27) 27 June 1953 (age 72) Tram Kak, Takéo, Cambodia, French Indochina
Political party	Cambodia National Rescue Party (2012–2017) Human Rights Party (2007–2012) Independent (2002–2007) FUNCINPEC (1999–2002) Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (1993–1999) Khmer People's National Liberation Front (1992–1993)
Spouse	Te Chanmono ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	2, including Monovithya
Education	University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (M.Sc.) Royal University of Law and Economics
Profession	Activist Politician
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Kem Sokha (Khmer: កឹម សុខា; born 27 June 1953) is a Cambodian former politician and activist. He was the President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). He also served as the Minority Leader in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2017. Before that, he was the First Vice President of the National Assembly from 2014 to 2015.

Kem Sokha represented Kampong Cham as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 2008 to 2017. He founded the Human Rights Party and led it from 2007 to 2012. In September 2017, he was arrested. His party, the CNRP, was later dissolved in November 2017. He was released on bail in September 2018 and then placed under house arrest. He was fully released from house arrest in November 2019. In March 2023, he was found guilty and sentenced to 27 years of house arrest.

Kem Sokha's Education Journey

Kem Sokha shared in 2018 that he started studying law at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh. He left during his second year. In 1981, he received a scholarship to study in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). He attended the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague. In 1986, he earned a Master of Science degree in chemistry.

Kem Sokha's Political Career

Kem Sokha meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in August 2022.

Kem Sokha's political journey began in 1993. He was elected as a representative for Takéo Province. At that time, he was part of Son Sann's Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party. In 1999, he joined the royalist party FUNCINPEC and became a senator. He left his Senate role in 2001.

In 2002, he started the Cambodian Center for Human Rights. This group worked to protect human rights. He left this organization in 2005 to return to politics. He then founded the Human Rights Party. This party finished third in the 2008 elections.

Connecting with People

Kem Sokha was known for holding weekly town hall meetings. These meetings took place in villages across Cambodia. He was the first to create an open space for people to talk about their rights. They discussed political rights, social issues, and how to improve their communities.

He is known for his peaceful approach to politics. He believes in democracy and unity. Many Cambodians often repeat his words. His phrase "Do Min Do" (meaning "Change or no change") became a popular slogan. It was used in the Cambodia National Rescue Party's election campaign in July 2013. This campaign saw many young people get involved.

Kem Sokha also caused some debate with a statement about the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. He claimed that the museum, which shows crimes by the Khmer Rouge, was made up by the Vietnamese government.

Leadership Roles

On 26 August 2014, Kem Sokha was elected as the First Vice President of the National Assembly. He received 116 votes. This was the first time an opposition MP held this important position. However, on 30 October 2015, he was removed from this role. This happened after disagreements with the ruling party.

In September 2016, Kem Sokha was sentenced to five months in prison. This was because he did not appear in court for questioning. He was later given a royal pardon by King Norodom Sihamoni. After his release, he was named Minority Leader. But in January 2017, this position was removed by the National Assembly.

On 2 March 2017, Kem Sokha was elected president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. Under his leadership, the party did very well in the June 2017 local elections. They won 482 out of 1,646 communes.

Legal Challenges

In September 2017, Kem Sokha was charged with "treason and espionage" by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. He was accused of working against the government. He was arrested at his home on September 3, 2017. Government officials claimed he was working with the United States.

His lawyers said his rights were violated. He was released on bail on 10 September 2018, more than a year after his arrest. He was then placed under house arrest. On 10 November 2019, he was released from house arrest. However, he is not allowed to travel outside Cambodia or take part in political activities. In March 2023, he was found guilty and sentenced to 27 years of house arrest.

See also

In Spanish: Kem Sokha para niños

• Cambodian Center for Human Rights