Prince Sisowath Thomico (Photo: Khemara, VOA)Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Thomico Visits Four Provinces, Shows Movies
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Seeking support for his new political party, Prince Sisowath Thomico has visited four provinces in recent weeks, showing villagers movies by retired King Norodom Sihanouk.
In addition to old favorites "Le Cid" and 'Twilight," Prince Thomico has played archive documentary footage about infrastructure built during Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum Reastr Niyum pre-civil war governments, the prince said Tuesday.
"People were very happy to watch the movies," the prince said. "The alliance's objective is to follow the Sangkum Reastr Niyum. That's why we showed the movies," he said.
The trips were intended to educate people about his own Sangkum Cheat Niyum, or "national community" alliance with four little-known political groups, rather than as a campaign for the 2008 election, he said.
"We haven't conducted an election campaign yet because we haven't formed a political party yet," he said.
The Khmer Front Party, the Angkor Empire Party, the Khmer United Party and the former Khmer People's National Liberation Front are members of the alliance, which was formed on July 27. Representatives of the groups accompanied the prince on the trips to Banteay Meanchey, Siern Reap, Battambang and Kompong Cham provinces.
Norodom Sihanouk has distanced himself from the project.
Yort Ray, police chief of Thma Puok district in Banteay Meanchey, said the prince gathered 50 to 60 people in the district Monday to tell them about the alliance. The villagers were not impressed, he added.
"People thought that as he was a member of the royal family he must have brought some gifts. But when they joined him they didn't receive any gifts so next time they won't bother to come," he said.
Yort Ray said he asked the organizers to stop as they did not have permission from the Ministry of Interior, but they refused to do so.
"They criticized the government but they did not insult the government," he said.
Prince Thomico questioned the decision by police to try and prevent the gathering.
"If the authorities prevented people from meeting me, will the villagers be allowed to visit their relatives in other villages?" he asked.
Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, said the alliance may be able to win seats at the National Assembly in 2008 by making political capital of Norodom Sihanouk's achievements.
Meng Rita, Sam Rainsy Party acting secretary-general, said he did not believe the movie campaign would work. The royal connection did not prevent Funcinpec from collapsing, he said. "Cambodian people are not ignorant," he added.
In addition to old favorites "Le Cid" and 'Twilight," Prince Thomico has played archive documentary footage about infrastructure built during Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum Reastr Niyum pre-civil war governments, the prince said Tuesday.
"People were very happy to watch the movies," the prince said. "The alliance's objective is to follow the Sangkum Reastr Niyum. That's why we showed the movies," he said.
The trips were intended to educate people about his own Sangkum Cheat Niyum, or "national community" alliance with four little-known political groups, rather than as a campaign for the 2008 election, he said.
"We haven't conducted an election campaign yet because we haven't formed a political party yet," he said.
The Khmer Front Party, the Angkor Empire Party, the Khmer United Party and the former Khmer People's National Liberation Front are members of the alliance, which was formed on July 27. Representatives of the groups accompanied the prince on the trips to Banteay Meanchey, Siern Reap, Battambang and Kompong Cham provinces.
Norodom Sihanouk has distanced himself from the project.
Yort Ray, police chief of Thma Puok district in Banteay Meanchey, said the prince gathered 50 to 60 people in the district Monday to tell them about the alliance. The villagers were not impressed, he added.
"People thought that as he was a member of the royal family he must have brought some gifts. But when they joined him they didn't receive any gifts so next time they won't bother to come," he said.
Yort Ray said he asked the organizers to stop as they did not have permission from the Ministry of Interior, but they refused to do so.
"They criticized the government but they did not insult the government," he said.
Prince Thomico questioned the decision by police to try and prevent the gathering.
"If the authorities prevented people from meeting me, will the villagers be allowed to visit their relatives in other villages?" he asked.
Hang Puthea, director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, said the alliance may be able to win seats at the National Assembly in 2008 by making political capital of Norodom Sihanouk's achievements.
Meng Rita, Sam Rainsy Party acting secretary-general, said he did not believe the movie campaign would work. The royal connection did not prevent Funcinpec from collapsing, he said. "Cambodian people are not ignorant," he added.
3 comments:
ah Thomico
Don't forget to show the film " Sihanouk Crime "
http://amekhmer.free.fr/khcrucial-event/1sihanouk-crime.htm
http://amekhmer.free.fr
No one supports the party " Sangkom Cheat Yum "
because this is the tricks of ah King Father Sihanouk who is the main killer of about 1.7 millions of Cambodians during 1975 - 1979
WHY DO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SIHANOUK'S FOOT STEP? THE WORLD IN 1960S WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM TODAY. DO YOU WANT TO BRING CAMBODIA BACK TO 1960 ? I THINK IT IS A DUMP MOVE. ONLY A LEADER WITH NO VISION LIKE PRINCE THOMICO WOULD DO THAT.
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