F'pec Seeks To Strip Prince of Immunity, Purge Loyalists
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Funcinpec has asked the National Assembly to strip Prince Norodom Ranariddh of his parliamentary immunity and announced a purge of more than 30 more party officials loyal to Prince Ranariddh.
Funcinpec on Sunday asked parliament to strip the immunity of both Prince Ranariddh and Funcinpec lawmaker Chhim Seak Leng, Funcinpec spokesman Nouv Sovafthero said.
Although the prince was officially fired from Funcinpec last week, he maintains his lawmaker position and the immunity that comes with it as does Chhim Seak Leng.
Muth Channtha, spokesman for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said that if the prince's immunity is lifted, he could end up in court.
"The court is under the control of the ruling parties. They can turn white into black," he said.
National Assembly and CPP Honorary President Heng Samrin said he did not oppose Funcinpec's request. As Prince Ranariddh is no longer in Funcinpec, he should not maintain his lawmaker status, Heng Samrin added.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the prince will have to tone down his criticism of the government if his immunity is stripped.
"He will have to be more cautious when he talks," Koul Panha said.
The more than 30 loyalists to the prince fired from government posts include secretaries and undersecretaries of state, provincial and district governors and deputy governors.
Chap Nhalivuth, Kompong Speu provincial governor, said he has been fired because he is Prince Ranariddh's half-brother, and will now be joining the NRP.
To Gary, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Planning, said he was fired for his allegiance to the prince.
"I do not betray my boss. I believe only in the prince. My boss can deal with border issues and illegal immigrants," he said.
Muth Channtha said he hoped the fired officials will all join the prince's new party.
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Note: Keo Puth Rasmy, the former Cambodian ambassador to Germany, should be familiar with this word.
Kristallnacht: Kristallnacht (also known as Reichskristallnacht, Novemberpogrome, Pogromnacht and the Night of Broken Glass) was a pogrom against Jews throughout Germany and parts of Austria on November 9–10, 1938.
Jewish homes and stores were ransacked in a thousand German cities, towns and villages, as ordinary citizens and stormtroopers destroyed buildings with sledgehammers, leaving the streets covered in smashed windows — the origin of the name "Night of Broken Glass." Jews were beaten to death; 30,000 Jewish men were taken to concentration camps; and 1,668 synagogues ransacked or set on fire. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Funcinpec on Sunday asked parliament to strip the immunity of both Prince Ranariddh and Funcinpec lawmaker Chhim Seak Leng, Funcinpec spokesman Nouv Sovafthero said.
Although the prince was officially fired from Funcinpec last week, he maintains his lawmaker position and the immunity that comes with it as does Chhim Seak Leng.
Muth Channtha, spokesman for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said that if the prince's immunity is lifted, he could end up in court.
"The court is under the control of the ruling parties. They can turn white into black," he said.
National Assembly and CPP Honorary President Heng Samrin said he did not oppose Funcinpec's request. As Prince Ranariddh is no longer in Funcinpec, he should not maintain his lawmaker status, Heng Samrin added.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the prince will have to tone down his criticism of the government if his immunity is stripped.
"He will have to be more cautious when he talks," Koul Panha said.
The more than 30 loyalists to the prince fired from government posts include secretaries and undersecretaries of state, provincial and district governors and deputy governors.
Chap Nhalivuth, Kompong Speu provincial governor, said he has been fired because he is Prince Ranariddh's half-brother, and will now be joining the NRP.
To Gary, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Planning, said he was fired for his allegiance to the prince.
"I do not betray my boss. I believe only in the prince. My boss can deal with border issues and illegal immigrants," he said.
Muth Channtha said he hoped the fired officials will all join the prince's new party.
---
Note: Keo Puth Rasmy, the former Cambodian ambassador to Germany, should be familiar with this word.
Kristallnacht: Kristallnacht (also known as Reichskristallnacht, Novemberpogrome, Pogromnacht and the Night of Broken Glass) was a pogrom against Jews throughout Germany and parts of Austria on November 9–10, 1938.
Jewish homes and stores were ransacked in a thousand German cities, towns and villages, as ordinary citizens and stormtroopers destroyed buildings with sledgehammers, leaving the streets covered in smashed windows — the origin of the name "Night of Broken Glass." Jews were beaten to death; 30,000 Jewish men were taken to concentration camps; and 1,668 synagogues ransacked or set on fire. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
1 comment:
It appears that Cambodia is getting worse and worse with political infighting.
In a stable country, one can not simply fire a "governor". The governor is elected by the people, and no party or national government can fire him without consent from the franchise.
Imagine if George Bush didn't like governor Mitt Romney of Massachusettes, and simply fired him. That would be an outrage.
Cambodia should have a separate election for provincial governors and the federal government. This way, the governors can better serve the people without worrying about whether the party in power, in this case the CPP, will remove him.
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