Royal Concessions and Soft Power The appointment of Kem Monovithya as special envoy to Prime Minister Hun Manet has sent shockwaves through Cambodia's complex web of politics.
On the surface, this rare concession by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) appears to be a calculated move to appease the opposition and win back international goodwill.
However, scratch beneath the royal decree, and it becomes clear that this is more than just a clever public relations stunt.