Thursday, June 08, 2006

Funcinpec right on target: Implosion countdown continues unabated

F'pec finger pointing game by Prince Norodom Chakrapong (L) and Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay (R) led observers to predict imminent implosion of the embattled party. (Photos: RFA)

Thursday, June 8, 2006

F'pec Infighting Intensifies; Lawsuit Threatened

By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY


Prince Norodom Chakrapong said Wednesday that he will sue Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay for defamation, after he claimed Tuesday that the prince was planning to form a breakaway party named after Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

Prince Chakrapong said he thinks Prince Ranariddh should form a party, but that he has not been involved in trying to set it up.

"I will send my lawyer to file a defamation lawsuit against Nhiek Bun Chhay at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. It is serious defamation. He doesn’t have any evidence," Prince Chakrapong said.

Prince Chakrapong added that a recent survey by the Washington-based International Republican Institute found that Funcinpec had only a 15-percent popularity rating in Cambodia, while Prince Ranariddh as an individual enjoyed a 68-percent popularity rating.

"Nhiek Bun Chhay has caused [Funcinpec] to lose its popularity," Prince Chakrapong said.

He accused Nhiek Bun Chhay of acting as if he were the royalist party president, causing party members to defect to the CPP and using Funcinpec to attain personal benefits.

Nhiek Bun Chhay on Tuesday accused Prince Chakrapong, Funcinpec Senior Minister Serei Kosal and Prince Ranariddh's spokesman Chea Chanboribo of planning to form a breakaway party named after Prince Ranariddh.

On Wednesday, he said he had enough evidence to prove his allegation against Prince Chakrapong.

"I didnt defame him," Nhiek Bun Chhay said, adding that he still believes the three will be forced to resign from Funcinpec.

Serei Kosal, who threatened on Tuesday to reveal embarrassing information about Nhiek Bun Chhay if he did not resign within 24 hours, said he was now planning to hold a news conference to reveal what he called "the real face" of Funcinpec's secretary-general.

He also claimed that Nhiek Bun Chhay had designs on becoming Cambodia's prime minister.

Nhiek Bun Chhay said that he neither wanted to be prime minister nor would step down from his position.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said Funcinpec officials would still fare poorly in a party named after Prince Ranariddh.

"The new party will receive zero seats at the National Assembly," he said.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

what nasty royal family!!!

King Father Sihanouk
Norodom Sihamoni

Ranarith
Vicheara
Sereyvuth
ChakroPeu ( ChakraPong)

Anonymous said...

N B Chhay is nothing but a spokesperson for the CPP.

Chakrapong is in no position to speak for FUNCINPEC. He never was a leader and never will. He had his chances and he was ineffective. He is insignificant in any role, in doing anything. And Ranaridh is a joke.

How much longer is the Cambodian people continue to let FUNCINPEC party destroy cambodia?