Nhiek Bun Chhay (Photo: RFA)By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Funcinpec is planning to ask the National Assembly soon to remove the parliamentary immunity from Prince Norodom Ranariddh when the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will officially authorize the prince to form his new political party.
The group of Funcinpec MPs who support and join Prince Ranariddh to form the new party will also face the removal of their parliamentary immunities.
At a press conference on Tuesday Morning, Nhiek Bun Chhay, vice-prime minister and Funcinpec secretary-general, indicated that currently, Prince ranariddh is still the historical president of Funcinpec and a MP from the Funcinpec party. However, when the Prince receives the official authorization from the MoI to form a new party, then Funcinpec will ask to have his parliamentary immunity removed.
Nhiek Bun Chhay said: “[Funcinpec rule] Article 16 states that Funcinpec party members cannot belong to another political party.”
An anonymous high ranking Funcinpec official indicated that the official request made by Prince Ranariddh to form a new political party will be sent to the secretary office of the MoI for final decision this Wednesday.
Serei Kosal, special advisor to Prince ranariddh, said that he hopes the MoI will give a positive answer to the request to form the new party soon. “If they don’t reply, it means that they agree, and if they reply that they accept then it will be even better. If there is any issue, they will inform us.”
He claimed that the official request made by Prince Ranariddh [to form a political party] follows the directives set by the MoI.
In addition to the plan to remove the immunity from Prince Ranariddh, Nhiek Bun Chhay indicated that You Hockry, the second vice-president of the National Assembly, will be removed from his position and will be replaced by minister Hong Sun Huot.
You Hockry, Khy Taing Lim, and Chhim Siek Leng are still currently Funcinpec MPs. Nhiek Bun Chhay claimed that to remain as Funcinpec MPs, they must follow rules, and if these MPs run away to join the Prince Ranariddh in forming a new party, it is the privilege of these Funcinpec MPs, however their Funcinpec membership will also end.
Nhiek Bun Chhay added: “The day the Excellencies conduct activities opposing the party or join the new party of Prince Ranariddh, automatically, we have to deal with it.”
On Tuesday, You Hockry could not be contacted yet to obtain his reaction, however, according to his letter dated 20 Oct, he indicated that if he were to support the illegal congress, he would be ashamed to sit on his 2nd vice-president of the National Assembly chair.
According to one source, it appears that Prince Ranariddh would return back to Cambodia on the first week of November, and he plans to raise his new party signs all over the country as soon as the MoI legally authorizes the formation of his party.
The group of Funcinpec MPs who support and join Prince Ranariddh to form the new party will also face the removal of their parliamentary immunities.
At a press conference on Tuesday Morning, Nhiek Bun Chhay, vice-prime minister and Funcinpec secretary-general, indicated that currently, Prince ranariddh is still the historical president of Funcinpec and a MP from the Funcinpec party. However, when the Prince receives the official authorization from the MoI to form a new party, then Funcinpec will ask to have his parliamentary immunity removed.
Nhiek Bun Chhay said: “[Funcinpec rule] Article 16 states that Funcinpec party members cannot belong to another political party.”
An anonymous high ranking Funcinpec official indicated that the official request made by Prince Ranariddh to form a new political party will be sent to the secretary office of the MoI for final decision this Wednesday.
Serei Kosal, special advisor to Prince ranariddh, said that he hopes the MoI will give a positive answer to the request to form the new party soon. “If they don’t reply, it means that they agree, and if they reply that they accept then it will be even better. If there is any issue, they will inform us.”
He claimed that the official request made by Prince Ranariddh [to form a political party] follows the directives set by the MoI.
In addition to the plan to remove the immunity from Prince Ranariddh, Nhiek Bun Chhay indicated that You Hockry, the second vice-president of the National Assembly, will be removed from his position and will be replaced by minister Hong Sun Huot.
You Hockry, Khy Taing Lim, and Chhim Siek Leng are still currently Funcinpec MPs. Nhiek Bun Chhay claimed that to remain as Funcinpec MPs, they must follow rules, and if these MPs run away to join the Prince Ranariddh in forming a new party, it is the privilege of these Funcinpec MPs, however their Funcinpec membership will also end.
Nhiek Bun Chhay added: “The day the Excellencies conduct activities opposing the party or join the new party of Prince Ranariddh, automatically, we have to deal with it.”
On Tuesday, You Hockry could not be contacted yet to obtain his reaction, however, according to his letter dated 20 Oct, he indicated that if he were to support the illegal congress, he would be ashamed to sit on his 2nd vice-president of the National Assembly chair.
According to one source, it appears that Prince Ranariddh would return back to Cambodia on the first week of November, and he plans to raise his new party signs all over the country as soon as the MoI legally authorizes the formation of his party.
1 comment:
Lon Nol was a General of Norodom Sihanouk and he overthrew Sihanouk in 1970. Now the former General of NoroDUM Ranariddh, Nhiek Bun Chhay, kicks Ranariddh out of the party and parliament. What's a history? History repeats by itself... hahahahaha
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