Radio Australia
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Click here to listen to Radio Australia's interview
Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh has condemned his fraud conviction in a Phnom Penh court this week, describing it as a grave injustice and politically motivated. And he's accused his long time nemesis Prime Minister Hun Sen of playing a direct role in ensuring the guilty verdict.
Presenter/Interviewer: Linda LoPresti
Speakers: Cambodia's ousted leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh
RANARIDDH: I feel personally a great sense of injustice against myself and it is clearly politically motivated. I think that what Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia did against me is to put pressure on me and to prevent me in particular from having political activity, and in particular, during the upcoming elections.
LOPRESTI: Indeed, this conviction keeps you out of the country. It means you can't take part in both next month's local elections or national elections to be held in 2008. So what of your political career in Cambodia?
RANARIDDH: Oh, I think madam, I can have a party which bears my own name. There is no doubt about it and so I will continue to have my party, my canidates, who very, very eager now to compete in the elections. As for my political career, I think that the national community will realise once again that we cannot talk about democracy, about liberalism, about pluralism if Norodom Ranariddh and his party are not allowed to participate in the next general elections.
LOPRESTI: Your own political organisation, the Norodom Ranariddh Party which you formed after being ousted from Funcinpec. Your party though, how can it make any headway in these elections without you at the helm?
RANARIDDH: I think that on the contrary, the injustice that let's say the tribunal against me, on the contrary instead of discouraging my followers, it has provided to them a sense of great courage, determination, to fight in render justice to me.
LOPRESTI: So, you're saying that because of this trial which you've described as politically motivated, it will make people, it will gather more support for your party, for the NRP?
RANARIDDH: Absolutely, absolutely madam, you are right.
LOPRESTI: Prince Ranariddh, what are your plans now? There are reports that you will write to your brother, King Norodom Sihamoni in a letter detailing the trial's irregularities. Is that something you will do?
RANARIDDH: Absolutely, absolutely. I will write to him, not in his capacity as my younger brother, but in his capacity of president of the Supreme Council. I like to show to him that the justice in Cambodia is that everything else but not justice at all. Why Hun Sen said that he would not ask my brother, he must be the king to give me amnesty. He has no right to say that. Because on the one hand, the king has the full right without consulting anyone to grant any amnesty to anyone.
LOPRESTI: Well, in 1998, after you were sentenced to 35 years in prison for allegedly plotting a coup with the Khmer Rouge a year earlier, you were saved by a royal parden from your father, former King Norodom Sihanouk. Will you be seeking a royal pardon this time round?
RANARIDDH: I think that I will wait for one or two more days to have a clearer picture. I think that the first thing is to mobilise my people and on the otherhand to send as I mentioned earlier, a letter to his Majesty the King.
LOPRESTI: Just finally Prince Ranariddh, you live in Paris these days. Do you think you're ever going to return to Phnom Penh and have a successful political career?
RANARIDDH: I hope that like in 1998 I will be allowed to go back and to continue my political career.
Presenter/Interviewer: Linda LoPresti
Speakers: Cambodia's ousted leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh
RANARIDDH: I feel personally a great sense of injustice against myself and it is clearly politically motivated. I think that what Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia did against me is to put pressure on me and to prevent me in particular from having political activity, and in particular, during the upcoming elections.
LOPRESTI: Indeed, this conviction keeps you out of the country. It means you can't take part in both next month's local elections or national elections to be held in 2008. So what of your political career in Cambodia?
RANARIDDH: Oh, I think madam, I can have a party which bears my own name. There is no doubt about it and so I will continue to have my party, my canidates, who very, very eager now to compete in the elections. As for my political career, I think that the national community will realise once again that we cannot talk about democracy, about liberalism, about pluralism if Norodom Ranariddh and his party are not allowed to participate in the next general elections.
LOPRESTI: Your own political organisation, the Norodom Ranariddh Party which you formed after being ousted from Funcinpec. Your party though, how can it make any headway in these elections without you at the helm?
RANARIDDH: I think that on the contrary, the injustice that let's say the tribunal against me, on the contrary instead of discouraging my followers, it has provided to them a sense of great courage, determination, to fight in render justice to me.
LOPRESTI: So, you're saying that because of this trial which you've described as politically motivated, it will make people, it will gather more support for your party, for the NRP?
RANARIDDH: Absolutely, absolutely madam, you are right.
LOPRESTI: Prince Ranariddh, what are your plans now? There are reports that you will write to your brother, King Norodom Sihamoni in a letter detailing the trial's irregularities. Is that something you will do?
RANARIDDH: Absolutely, absolutely. I will write to him, not in his capacity as my younger brother, but in his capacity of president of the Supreme Council. I like to show to him that the justice in Cambodia is that everything else but not justice at all. Why Hun Sen said that he would not ask my brother, he must be the king to give me amnesty. He has no right to say that. Because on the one hand, the king has the full right without consulting anyone to grant any amnesty to anyone.
LOPRESTI: Well, in 1998, after you were sentenced to 35 years in prison for allegedly plotting a coup with the Khmer Rouge a year earlier, you were saved by a royal parden from your father, former King Norodom Sihanouk. Will you be seeking a royal pardon this time round?
RANARIDDH: I think that I will wait for one or two more days to have a clearer picture. I think that the first thing is to mobilise my people and on the otherhand to send as I mentioned earlier, a letter to his Majesty the King.
LOPRESTI: Just finally Prince Ranariddh, you live in Paris these days. Do you think you're ever going to return to Phnom Penh and have a successful political career?
RANARIDDH: I hope that like in 1998 I will be allowed to go back and to continue my political career.
6 comments:
What a dumb and idiot CPP!
Most know that this Prince is one of other Cambo-crooks that people is keen to seem him neutralised. The first show CPP failed to convince local and international observers was the court case agains the Prince over the selling of his former party headquater. As having been seen that the affiliated-CPP judges were incapable in playing acting roles in the orchestrated-by-HunSen scenario, which recently convicted the Prince for 18 months in jail, the independence of Cambo judicial system remains doubtful. In another word, this show failed to entertain audiences. Again, immediately after this case, the ruler resumes its second scenario by ordering to investigate the Prince's deputy over his debt in tax.
The immediate impacts from the outcomes of the conviction are:
1. CPP itself made the Prince alive again in political arena. It has been noticed that there are no voice supports, either international or local organisations, for the Prince since he resigned from the head of national assembly a year ago and again when he was recently ousted from the Funcipec's boss. It now can see that the reactions from US Ambassador in Phnom Penh, interview of ABC Australia with the Prince, the denouncement of this sentence by the oppositions (Sam Rainsy and Thormico), and from NGOs. This is not because they feel sympathy on the prince and his own-climing royal party, but the political motivation and violation from the ruler.
2. CPP itself made its own judicial system weak if the consideration comes to light in the Khmer Rouge tribunal, and whenever it comes into consideration about the quality of the court. What people are afraid of is that more innocents would follow the suit in years to come if this ruler remains ruling.
Whether this case is the trap imposed by the royal group to gain the sympathy from observers, or the CPP objective to dig out the reyal root from Cambo-politics, CPP is considered as a loser within this game. Should the second scenario failed to entertain the audiences again, those who played acting roles should promptly seek for the back-ups, or they might risk their current positions. Who knows, as they now live in a clientable system.
Ranarith need is an explaination to all Khmer people
regarding what is the court accused him about. If he keep hiding an issues people still doubt
about him.
Bati
now you know who hun sen or cpp
really afraid of...in polical
election....
GOD'S Advice
1- Ranarithh should manage well his own mistress and Ladies.. Googd Governance and Proper management is best way for you..
2- Reduce Srey Sra Lbeang.."
You are one the Targets to which the Publics focused and You want to be poli-leader/Ryal family, you should avoid
thease 3 Ckourts.
Hun Sen is not affraid at All those PRinces Mkvessar or Krom Preass, he is affraid of others
But those Samdachs make trouble to Cambodia Atmoshere that is why PM hun sen also responses...
Those Samdachs are useless....
PH hun sen wnat to be poli- partner with those guys as he considered that they esily to to cove by using Srey Sra, Dollars,,but finally they are to stupid.... not politicians... hooligans and jump bark that is why hun sen takes them out.....
Acha Knoy
Mchas Bang Please LAM PA again,
why we got least Ballots ????
FROM MCHAS OUN
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