PHNOM PENH: President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen welcomed former opposition activist Yim Sinorn into the folds of the CPP on the morning of 21 April 2023. The Prime Minister announced to the media this morning that he expects Sinorn, a former member of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, will be a valuable addition to the party.

"I welcome Yim Sinorn to a political career with the Cambodian People's Party upon his request. I hope that Mr. Sinorn will be a valuable resource for the Cambodian People's Party," he said.

Yim Sinorn and Hun Kosal, another member of the former opposition party, were jailed on 22 March for “insulting the King and inciting serious chaos.” He was subsequently released after his wife asked the Prime Minister for clemency and he issued an apology.

On the morning of 21 April, Sinorn made a post via his wife’s Facebook page requesting to join the CPP. He reflected on the peaceful Khmer New Year he experienced and on his stint in prison last month, during which he says he found out who his real friends were. He added that during his 12 years with the opposition, he had always joined in rallies for the release of opposition members from prison; yet, he saw no demands for his own release and instead was met with insults and a smear campaign from his supposed allies.

He now considers the opposition leaders, which he championed for more than a decade, to be cruel, immoral and unqualified. "If they came to power, the first people they would kill or imprison would be the real Democrats who did not agree with their ideas or views. It could be me or anyone else," he wrote.

He wrote that he does not wish to see any party or group promoting false democracy to have the opportunity to lead Cambodia, so he would like to join the CPP to serve the people and the country in his highest capacity.

"If Samdech Hun Sen gives me the opportunity and permission, I would like to join the political stage with the Cambodian People's Party in order to have the full opportunity to serve the people and the country under the umbrella of peace," he wrote, “However, if Samdech finds that I am not qualified to join the CPP, I am content living as an ordinary citizen like any other, helping the nation and serving the people to the best of my ability.”