Sunday, March 26, 2006

Princess Vichara Asks To Return FUNCINPEC Party to Founder Sihanouk

Princess Norodom Vacheara (Photo RFA)

23 March 2006

Samdech Norodom Vichara Asks To Change name FUNCINPEC Because of Contempt for Royal Family Members; Samdech Norodom Sirivudh Quits Acting FUNCINPEC Party Chairman Post

By Konthea
Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper

Translation from Khmer

The pro-government newspaper Phnom Penh Reaksmei Kampuchea in Cambodian on 23 March carries a report by Konthea saying Princess Norodom Vichara on 22 March asked to "change the name FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] so as to return it to former King Norodom Sihanouk." The move was made after she felt "unhappy with criticisms and attacks, from within the FUNCINPEC Party, on members of the royal family, specifically on Prince Sirivudh," her younger brother, who has just been divested of various government positions.

The princess told Reaksmei Kampuchea on 22 March that Prince Sirivudh had "always supported Prince Norodom Ranariddh, but in the end, he was not rewarded with gratitude but criticized within the party."

The report adds Princess Vichara said she had noticed there had been opposition to the royals within the FUNCINPEC Party, but she "refused to elaborate on its extent and declined to name names directly. She only said, "As we have already been aware, there were interviews that have exerted influential, adverse effects." She added, "If they no longer support Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh], they should return the name 'FUNCINPEC' to the great heroic King [Norodom Sihanouk], the founder of this party, and then coin a new name instead."

Princess Vichara, the report adds, found fault with FUNCINPEC members who attacked Prince Sirivudh, saying it was "not right." "Those within the FUNCINPEC Party are attacking and stepping on the members of the royal family in order to sink them," she added. "If one wants to get rid of the members of the royal family, one should change the name [FUNCINPEC] with another name and then return it to His Majesty [Norodom Sihanouk]. The name must not be used to damage the great heroic king's reputation in any case. And to preserve the value of FUNCINPEC, one should not trample upon my younger brother and the other members of the royal family."

The report says the current of anti-royal family feeling has loomed in the latest political development. It is evidenced by the removal Prince Sirivudh from the FUNCINPEC secretary general post, the objection to Prince Norodom Chakkrapong accepting the party secretary general position, and the denial of supporting Princess Vichara's candidacy for the national assembly second vice chairmanship. Those oppositions surfaced after harsh criticisms had been directed at FUNCINPEC Leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who has been staying in France since stepping down from the national assembly chairmanship.

Furthermore, the report says Prince Sirivudh has already tendered his resignation from the acting FUNCINPEC chairman post to Party Chairman Prince Ranariddh, after the National Assembly voted him out as deputy prime minister and co-minister of interior.

Elaborating on Prince Sirivudd's demission, Princess Vichara said, "It is due to the FUNCINPEC Party's statute does not spell out the acting party leader's roles and also due to the party secretary general having already been selected. Therefore, Samdech Norodom Sirivudh quit the position to make room for the new FUNCINPEC secretary general, Nhoek Bun-chhai, to work with the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] smoothly.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry princess, nobody cares. Your party you can do whatever you please to do so. Changes it, destoys it, return it or whatever you prefer...

Anonymous said...

hey, old wrinkle face low life scum ladi, go find youself a real job!..so what is your major?..dr. politic like raderidd or what?..all the sihanouk son and chicks, no one is educated!..eeyore!