Ranariddh (L) and Hun Sen (R) during their cooperation heydays. (Photo: AFP)Monday, November 20, 2006
Hun Sen: “Before, Prince Ranariddh had a villa, now he has a hut”
By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
“Before he was the shade for others, now he takes refuge under someone else’s shade.” During a visit to the construction site of the new National Assembly on Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen was mocking the choice made Prince Ranariddh to accept to become the president of the Khmer Front Party (KFP), a party which decided to change its name to Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). “He moved from a villa to a hut,” he added with irony.
Last week, during the extraordinary congress of the KFP, a tiny opposition party consisting essentially of students, the party transformed itself to the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), thereby allowing the prince to use it as his political launching point, whereas, he was deprived of such mean since his October eviction from the Funcinpec presidency. From now on, the former prime minister, and then president of the National Assembly, who was associated with Hun Sen under the framework of a policy of national reconciliation grouping the Funcinpec and the CPP, places himself in the government opposition camp. Not alongside Sam Rainsy, but alongside Prince Thomico, the general delegate of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party.
In answer to the mocking of the prime minister, Ok Socheat, a close advisor to Prince Ranariddh, rejects the idea that the latter as well as his followers placed themselves under another party’s shade. “The Khmer Front Party regroups justice-loving students who are concerned about the respect of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty, and they fight against illegal immigration. If they offer the presidency of their party to the prince, it is because they trust him,” Ok Socheat commented. And he assured that the existence of the NRP would already allow the flow of defection from within Funcinpec. Funcinpec party members angered by Nhiek Bun Chhay’s strategy who orchestrated the eviction of Prince Ranariddh, should be ready to join back their former leader.
“All of that is propaganda,” Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, replied. “I believe that our party members lost confidence in Prince Ranariddh. Nevertheless, there could be defections because some do not understand the meaning of the reforms which we initiated. We are not afraid about this matter and we will pursue our job to provide explanation.”
Furthermore, Nouv Sovathero added, the legal status of the NRP is not clear yet. This party must be recognized by both the Ministry of Interior and the National Election Committee. However, up to now, Prince Ranariddh still remains officially as Funcinpec “historical guide” and the party’s MP while the legal process opposing the prince and Funcinpec is still active.
The NRP does not doubt its recognition by the authorities. 1,621 party signs bearing the picture of the prince, i.e. one for each commune, are under preparation for their installation from now until the end of the year.
Last week, during the extraordinary congress of the KFP, a tiny opposition party consisting essentially of students, the party transformed itself to the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), thereby allowing the prince to use it as his political launching point, whereas, he was deprived of such mean since his October eviction from the Funcinpec presidency. From now on, the former prime minister, and then president of the National Assembly, who was associated with Hun Sen under the framework of a policy of national reconciliation grouping the Funcinpec and the CPP, places himself in the government opposition camp. Not alongside Sam Rainsy, but alongside Prince Thomico, the general delegate of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party.
In answer to the mocking of the prime minister, Ok Socheat, a close advisor to Prince Ranariddh, rejects the idea that the latter as well as his followers placed themselves under another party’s shade. “The Khmer Front Party regroups justice-loving students who are concerned about the respect of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty, and they fight against illegal immigration. If they offer the presidency of their party to the prince, it is because they trust him,” Ok Socheat commented. And he assured that the existence of the NRP would already allow the flow of defection from within Funcinpec. Funcinpec party members angered by Nhiek Bun Chhay’s strategy who orchestrated the eviction of Prince Ranariddh, should be ready to join back their former leader.
“All of that is propaganda,” Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, replied. “I believe that our party members lost confidence in Prince Ranariddh. Nevertheless, there could be defections because some do not understand the meaning of the reforms which we initiated. We are not afraid about this matter and we will pursue our job to provide explanation.”
Furthermore, Nouv Sovathero added, the legal status of the NRP is not clear yet. This party must be recognized by both the Ministry of Interior and the National Election Committee. However, up to now, Prince Ranariddh still remains officially as Funcinpec “historical guide” and the party’s MP while the legal process opposing the prince and Funcinpec is still active.
The NRP does not doubt its recognition by the authorities. 1,621 party signs bearing the picture of the prince, i.e. one for each commune, are under preparation for their installation from now until the end of the year.
4 comments:
These students are so naive. To be scholars and politicians how can they fail to see that Ranraridth during his coalition times had many chances to reject and make stances on soverignty and territorial integrity as well as illegal aliens, yet he did not.
Why do they think that because he joins them, he will suddenly be all caring and khmer lovingnow?
These students are just as bad as Ranarith, all it need was some payout from Ranarith with a few promises to be in the party rank.
People who handed the Party over Rannaridh were ignorant. They created a party from scratch now they gave away their party to Hayenas. You will see this stupid prince only appoints his relatives to be in charge of the party. Hun Sen did a great job by diving royal family. They only do for themself not the people. Why you people support this animal??
Stupid people every where dud!
-Student
-Doctor
-prist
-monk
-even scholar and PHD!
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