Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, on Tuesday, told a local newspaper that what Mr. Lu Lay Sreng, former deputy prime minister, was doing was the attempt to politicise Mr. Kem Sokha's case by asking His Majesty the King to intervene.
"I think His Excellency Lu Lay Sreng should know better about what His Majesty the King could do. We all know that what the court is doing in Cambodia is in the name of an independent institution. But now, Mr. Lu Lay Sreng is politicizing a court case. Only an unrighteous old man has such idea," said the spokesman.
Mr. Kem Sokha, a well-known opposition leader, was arrested on September 3 early morning around midnight at his house in Phnom Penh following an alleged video clip posted on the Internet for which Prime Minister Hun Sen has accused Mr. Sokha for treason.
On Sunday, Mr. Lay Sreng sent a letter to His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni telling Him that the current political atmosphere in Cambodia is very intense due to the fact that the ruling party CPP had been amending the Law on Political Parties in a view to restrain political parties' activity. And the closure of international NGO, of a number of radio stations, and of independent media is also worsening the political situation in the country.
Mr. Lay Sreng also called on His Majesty the King to return to the country in order to use His «Royal Prerogative» as arbitrator, as enshrining in the Cambodian Constitution, to find solutions to the current dispute between political parties.
"The King shall assume the supreme role as arbitrator to ensure the regular execution of public powers," read Article 9 of the Cambodian Constitution.
Regarding this «Royal Prerogative» as arbitrator, the late King Bhumibol of Thailand has been using this privilege twice to calm down tensions between political parties in Thailand.
In 1973 when clashes between Thai troops and Thai protesters took place in the streets of Bangkok, the late King Bhumibol has been defusing the situation by allowing protesting students to stay inside his palace. As a result, a compromise has been settled between Thai political parties.
In 1992, the late King Bhumibol used his «Royal Prerogative» again by calling a military-backed prime minister and the leader of the protest movement to prostrate before him. After the video of the prostration had been broadcasted, all Thai people laid down their weapon to live in peace with each other for the longest period of democracy, up to the coup of 2006.
On the other hand, according to the British constitutional monarchy system, British kings and queens have the right to be consulted, the right to encourage and the right to warn.
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