to English: "Change or no change") became the anthem for the Cambodia National Rescue Party's election Campaign in July 2013, which drew an unprecedented amount of youth participation. On 26 August 2014, Kem was elected by the National Assembly as its First Vice President with 116 votes, the first opposition MP to hold the office. On 30 October 2015, he was ousted from the vice presidency by a vote of 68–0 following disagreements with the ruling party. On 9 September 2016, after months under house arrest, Kem was sentenced to five months in prison after refusing to appear in court for questioning in a prostitution case against him. He was later granted a royal pardon by King Norodom Sihamoni. Following his release, he was officially appointed as Minority Leader. However, the positions of Minority Leader and Majority Leader were abolished altogether by the National Assembly on 31 January 2017 following a proposal by Prime Minister Hun Sen. On 2 March 2017, Kem was elected president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party at the party's congress, along with three other deputies. Under his leadership, the party made sweeping gains in the June 2017 local elections, winning 482 of 1,646 communes. Treason allegations In September 2017, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged Kem with "treason and espionage", and for allegedly orchestrating the 2014 Veng Sreng street protests. He was arrested at his home on September 3, 2017. Hun Sen and other Cambodian government officials alleged that Kem was conspiring with the United States of America. Kem's lawyers have alleged violations of their client's rights under Article 149 of the Criminal Procure Code. He was released on bail on 10 September 2018, more than a year after his arrest, but was placed under house arrest. He was released from house arrest on 10 November 2019 but is banned from travelling outside the country and taking part in political activities. See also Cambodian Center for Human Rights References External links Kem Sokha Kem Sokha on Facebook Human Rights Party Cambodia National Rescue Party CCHR - Cambodian Center for Human Rights website Newsweek article Cambodia arrests rights activist, Guy De Launey, BBC, Phnom Penh Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism Institute of Chemical Technology Cambodian Leader Cracks Down in Bid to Solidify Power--New York Times BBC: While in U.S., Cambodians Get a Lesson on Rights From Home Cambodian Center for Human Rights |-