Thursday, November 30, 2006

F'pec Official Calls for Truce With Prince's Party

Thursday, November 30, 2006

By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY


A top Funcinpec official Wednesday appealed for an end to the dispute between Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party, warning that both parties stand to lose supporters if their differences cannot be resolved.

The call for a truce by Lu Laysreng, Funcinpec's first deputy president, came one day after Prince Norodom Ranariddh's fledgling NRP was officially recognized by the Interior Ministry.

"I appeal to the two parties not to attack each other. We will both lose votes to the Sam Rainsy Party and the CPP," said Lu Laysreng, also minister of rural development "Funcinpec and Norodom Ranariddh Party are like a divorced couple, but the children still like each other," he added in a telephone interview.

The escalating tension between the two parties has seen the pair vying for each other's potential supporters, and Funcinpec Secretary General Nhiek Bun Chhay and Prince Ranariddh filing lawsuits against each other at Phnom Penh Municipal Court Prince Ranariddh was ousted from the Funcinpec presidency on Oct 18.

Interior Minister Sar Kheng wrote in a statement to Prince Ranariddh dated Tuesday that the ministry has recognized the prince as head of the NRP.

NRP spokesman Muth Channtha said that it is unlikely the two parties will be able to reach any sort of agreement, as Funcinpec ousted Prince Ranariddh. Funcinpec has also attempted to sabotage the NRP by warning the prince's supporters inside Funcinpec against joining his new party, Muth Channtha said.

"The Norodom Ranariddh Party doesn’t want to accept the traitors to the prince," he said

Now that the NRP has been recognized as an official party, people will feel more confident to join Prince Ranariddh, " he added.

Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said Lu Laysreng’s appeal is a sign of Funcinpec's insecurity in the face of a reinvigorated Prince Ranariddh. "The Norodom Ranariddh Party is taking Funcinpec members," he said.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I DON'T BELIEVE ONE BIT THAT Mr. LU LAYSRENG LIKE ANYONE IN RANARIDDH NEW PARTY, OTHERWISE HE WOULD NOT BETRAY RANARIDDH IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHAT IS A FOOL! YOU ALL MAY GO TO COMMIT SUICIDE INFRONT OF YUONS's OCCUPIERS HOK LUNDY, SOK AN, HUN SEN, HOR NAM HOANG etc.....

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr.LU Laysreng,
FUNCEPEC members are fighting for money, power, and fame. They are not like "divorced couple" but more like dogs fighting over bones.

Anonymous said...

You all betray the country and religion, may mother earth take you back in her alive!