A/HRC/42/60/Add.2 set up by the constitution. As in all democratic countries, the amended law is aimed at preventing abuses that are not in accordance with fundamental democratic principle such as incitation to racial hatred, defamation, destruction of the social fabric of the nation. It is inviolably duty of the government to protect the sanctity of its existing institutions. What Cambodia did in term of amending its own political party law is not an odd with international practices. For that matter, the EU, through the Venice commission, has adopted in 1999 its “Guidelines on Prohibition and Dissolution of Political Parties and Analogous Measures.” The prohibition or dissolution of political parties can be envisaged if necessary to protect a democratic society, when for example a party advocates violence in all forms such as racism, xenophobia and intolerance. We see the same practices and stipulations in some countries in Europe such as in French, Danish and Portuguese Constitutions and Laws and also in some other countries in Asia namely Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines...etc. 4. Newly-created political parties in 2018 elections Cambodia noted with deep regret the Special Rapporteur's comments on the newlyestablished political parties in the 2018 elections. Such a reference implies the discrimination of the political and civil rights of the Cambodian people to participate in political life, including the creation of a political party, which are well guaranteed in the Constitution. In the 2018 elections, 19 political parties did oppose the ruling party, Cambodian People's Party (CPP). It is about a true democratic contest with real contenders to the present ruling party. Some parties, which are long-standing opponents to the CPP, did not have much success in the past because they refuse to resort to the CNRP's ultra-nationalistic and racist populism rhetoric promoting social hatred and division. While there is a lack of opposition party in the parliament due to the result of democratic election held in July last year and in order to further promote democracy and the rule of law in Cambodia, the Royal Government has set up participatory consultative mechanisms with all political parties in Cambodia known as Supreme Consultative Council to collect multifaceted inputs for the benefit of national construction. This council replaces the existence of opposition in parliament as it creates a public consultative forum within the process of legal and policy formulation and implementation and also check-and-balance platform with government through their monitoring mechanism, criticism, comments and recommendations provided to the government to be addressed. 5. The Release of Kem Sokha On 9 September 2018, the Court of First Instance issued an order to release Mr. Kem Sokha under judicial supervision with some conditions, meaning that he was no longer under pretrial detention within the maximum period of 18 months in prison. Currently, the case is in charged by the investigating judge of Phnom Penh Court of First Instance, an independent body which cannot be interfered by any institution as guaranteed by the Constitution. According to this procedure law, Kem Sokha is not under house arrest as claimed and alleged by some other groups because he has fully right to leave his home within the permitted perimeters, use phone, meet or communicate with family, lawyers or any persons who are not prohibited by court. 6. Legal action against the members of former opposition party Actually the recent legal action against the members of former opposition party by the local and court authority is an attempt to enforce the rule of law against the violators, who try to exempt themselves from law and justice on the ground that they are simply promoting different voices in different ways with a malicious intention. Political rhetoric with full of incitement, hatred, discrimination, violence, harassment, abuses, social riot appeal, call for support of illegal movement and organization and rebellion against legitimately elected government made by those members of former opposition party so far is not the right to freedom of expression and opinion, but an illegal act and must face criminal liability in accordance with the criminal law of Cambodia. If this trend left uncheck it will end up in the way that freedom of expression and opinion is distorted and twisted to undermine rule of law, human rights and democracy at once and for all. 6