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| Cambodia to deport Australian film-maker James Ricketson after royal pardon | Cambodia to deport Australian film-maker James Ricketson after royal pardon |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An Australian filmmaker who received a royal pardon from Cambodia will be deported on Saturday, immigration officials said, a day after he was released from a six-year sentence in a case Human Rights Watch has called “a ludicrous charade”. | An Australian filmmaker who received a royal pardon from Cambodia will be deported on Saturday, immigration officials said, a day after he was released from a six-year sentence in a case Human Rights Watch has called “a ludicrous charade”. |
| James Ricketson, 69, was given jail time three weeks ago for “espionage and collecting harmful information that could affect national defence” by a Phnom Penh court. | James Ricketson, 69, was given jail time three weeks ago for “espionage and collecting harmful information that could affect national defence” by a Phnom Penh court. |
| He was then issued a royal pardon on Friday, after strongman premier Hun Sen requested it from the Cambodian king. | He was then issued a royal pardon on Friday, after strongman premier Hun Sen requested it from the Cambodian king. |
| Cambodia: Hun Sen re-elected in landslide victory after brutal crackdown | Cambodia: Hun Sen re-elected in landslide victory after brutal crackdown |
| “We will deport him today,” Keo Vanthan, spokesman for the immigration department said. “We are looking for a flight for him.” | “We will deport him today,” Keo Vanthan, spokesman for the immigration department said. “We are looking for a flight for him.” |
| Ricketson’s lawyer Kong Sam Onn confirmed this, adding that the Australian’s visa to stay in Cambodia had expired. | Ricketson’s lawyer Kong Sam Onn confirmed this, adding that the Australian’s visa to stay in Cambodia had expired. |
| The embattled filmmaker had been in prison since last June, after footage emerged of him using a drone to film a rally of the now-defunct opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). | The embattled filmmaker had been in prison since last June, after footage emerged of him using a drone to film a rally of the now-defunct opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). |
| His six-day trial – which rights groups have condemned as a farce – showed him to be defiant and combative, and featured a surprise appearance by Hollywood director Peter Weir who served as a character witness for his friend. | His six-day trial – which rights groups have condemned as a farce – showed him to be defiant and combative, and featured a surprise appearance by Hollywood director Peter Weir who served as a character witness for his friend. |
| The prosecution accused Ricketson of working as a filmmaker in Cambodia as a front for spying activities, but the verdict failed to name which country he was allegedly spying for. | The prosecution accused Ricketson of working as a filmmaker in Cambodia as a front for spying activities, but the verdict failed to name which country he was allegedly spying for. |
| His truncated prison term came after a series of activists and opposition lawmakers were freed in the weeks following July’s national election, which critics have said was neither free nor fair. | His truncated prison term came after a series of activists and opposition lawmakers were freed in the weeks following July’s national election, which critics have said was neither free nor fair. |
| The CNRP, which had served as the sole legitimate opposition force to Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party, was dissolved in the lead-up to the controversial poll, clearing the path for the CPP to take all 125 parliament seats. | The CNRP, which had served as the sole legitimate opposition force to Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party, was dissolved in the lead-up to the controversial poll, clearing the path for the CPP to take all 125 parliament seats. |
| This effectively rendered Cambodia a one-party state, which the international community has decried as a death knell to democracy. | This effectively rendered Cambodia a one-party state, which the international community has decried as a death knell to democracy. |
| After the poll Hun Sen – who has been in power for more than three decades – returned to a pattern of easing up on dissent. | After the poll Hun Sen – who has been in power for more than three decades – returned to a pattern of easing up on dissent. |
| Ricketson’s pardon comes just days before Hun Sen is scheduled to travel to New York to attend the United Nations general assembly. | Ricketson’s pardon comes just days before Hun Sen is scheduled to travel to New York to attend the United Nations general assembly. |
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