11 July 2006
Ranariddh tries to regain control of Funcinpec (2)
Since Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh left Cambodia last March, his party has been under the effective control of Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay who enjoys the support of Prime Minister Hun Sen (see KI, 25 April 2006: "Hun Sen still needs Funcinpec"). Knowing that Nhiek Bun Chhay wants to further sideline him by appointing him Honorary Chairman and knowing also that he cannot form a new political party without losing all the current 26 Funcinpec National Assembly members, Ranariddh is trying to regain the control of the royalist party. In order to weaken Nhiek Bun Chhay, the Prince is telling the latter that the positions of Funcinpec Secretary-General and Deputy Prime Minister are incompatible. The Prince, who is currently in France, is also announcing that he will be back in Cambodia later this month.
Actually, the Prince's second wife Ouk Phalla and their two maids cannot stay longer in France because their visas have expired.
Besides, the Prince is afraid that he may be prosecuted upon his return because the CPP may expose his corruption when he chaired the National Assembly and the National Olympic Committee. Given Ranariddh's indecisiveness, the rift within Funcinpec is likely to continue while the royalist party is continuously losing ground.
Thomico's new party to deal a serious blow to Funcinpec (2) Prince Sisowath Thomico's party, which is to be launched very soon under the name "Sangkum Cheat Nyium" is likely to deal a serious blow to Funcinpec since the two parties will compete for royalist and, more precisely, Sihanoukist votes. But contrary to Funcinpec which is perceived to have deceitfully put forward the name of former King Norodom Sihanouk, Thomico's "Sangkum Cheat Nyium" will strive to model itself on the Sangkum Reastr Niyum that ruled Cambodia from 1955 to 1970, a period known as the golden era in the
country's modern history.
Sam Rainsy to receive award in Marrakech (1)
At an international meeting of liberal leaders last June in Manila, Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon announced that the London-based Liberal International had awarded Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy the much coveted Prize for Freedom Award for 2006.
Sam Rainsy will receive the award in Marrakech, Morocco, on November 9. More information at http://tinyurl.com/k6wwf
25 April 2006
Hun Sen still needs Funcinpec (2)
By firing a large number of Funcinpec-affiliated officials from the government and public administration, the ruling CPP is continuously weakening its royalist coalition partner while strengthening its own grip on the country. However, Prime Minister Hun Sen must preserve Funcinpec as a political party since he absolutely needs the current
26 Funcinpec-affiliated National Assembly members in order to prevent a major political crisis before the next legislative elections scheduled for 2008. To retain their seats, Cambodian parliamentarians must remain affiliated to the party under the banner of which they were originally elected. If anyone of them resigns, he/she must be replaced by a candidate from the same party.
If Funcinpec stops existing as a political party, the 26 Funcinpec Assembly members would lose their seats and cannot be replaced. The current 123-member Assembly would have to be dissolved since, according to article 76 of the Constitution, "the Assembly consists of at least 120 members".
Hun Sen's current strategy consists in sidelining Funcinpec members who are loyal to Prince Norodom Ranariddh and promoting those who are actually working for the CPP.
Ranariddh tries to regain control of Funcinpec (2)
Since Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh left Cambodia last March, his party has been under the effective control of Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay who enjoys the support of Prime Minister Hun Sen (see KI, 25 April 2006: "Hun Sen still needs Funcinpec"). Knowing that Nhiek Bun Chhay wants to further sideline him by appointing him Honorary Chairman and knowing also that he cannot form a new political party without losing all the current 26 Funcinpec National Assembly members, Ranariddh is trying to regain the control of the royalist party. In order to weaken Nhiek Bun Chhay, the Prince is telling the latter that the positions of Funcinpec Secretary-General and Deputy Prime Minister are incompatible. The Prince, who is currently in France, is also announcing that he will be back in Cambodia later this month.
Actually, the Prince's second wife Ouk Phalla and their two maids cannot stay longer in France because their visas have expired.
Besides, the Prince is afraid that he may be prosecuted upon his return because the CPP may expose his corruption when he chaired the National Assembly and the National Olympic Committee. Given Ranariddh's indecisiveness, the rift within Funcinpec is likely to continue while the royalist party is continuously losing ground.
Thomico's new party to deal a serious blow to Funcinpec (2) Prince Sisowath Thomico's party, which is to be launched very soon under the name "Sangkum Cheat Nyium" is likely to deal a serious blow to Funcinpec since the two parties will compete for royalist and, more precisely, Sihanoukist votes. But contrary to Funcinpec which is perceived to have deceitfully put forward the name of former King Norodom Sihanouk, Thomico's "Sangkum Cheat Nyium" will strive to model itself on the Sangkum Reastr Niyum that ruled Cambodia from 1955 to 1970, a period known as the golden era in the
country's modern history.
Sam Rainsy to receive award in Marrakech (1)
At an international meeting of liberal leaders last June in Manila, Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon announced that the London-based Liberal International had awarded Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy the much coveted Prize for Freedom Award for 2006.
Sam Rainsy will receive the award in Marrakech, Morocco, on November 9. More information at http://tinyurl.com/k6wwf
25 April 2006
Hun Sen still needs Funcinpec (2)
By firing a large number of Funcinpec-affiliated officials from the government and public administration, the ruling CPP is continuously weakening its royalist coalition partner while strengthening its own grip on the country. However, Prime Minister Hun Sen must preserve Funcinpec as a political party since he absolutely needs the current
26 Funcinpec-affiliated National Assembly members in order to prevent a major political crisis before the next legislative elections scheduled for 2008. To retain their seats, Cambodian parliamentarians must remain affiliated to the party under the banner of which they were originally elected. If anyone of them resigns, he/she must be replaced by a candidate from the same party.
If Funcinpec stops existing as a political party, the 26 Funcinpec Assembly members would lose their seats and cannot be replaced. The current 123-member Assembly would have to be dissolved since, according to article 76 of the Constitution, "the Assembly consists of at least 120 members".
Hun Sen's current strategy consists in sidelining Funcinpec members who are loyal to Prince Norodom Ranariddh and promoting those who are actually working for the CPP.
No comments:
Post a Comment