By Vong Sokheng
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 05, March 9 - 22, 2007
The lawsuit against Prince Norodom Ranariddh - leader of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) - is moving toward trial, threatening Ranariddh's campaign for the commune council elections on April 1, a local election monitoring NGO said.
"If a leader of a political party cannot participate in the electoral campaign it effects both the process of the election and the supporters of that party," Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) told the Post on March 5.
Panha said that barring a political leader for political reasons from participating in the electoral campaign compromises the electoral process.
"It means the election is not free and fair and it lacks an international standard," he said.
But Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said the legal battle between NRP and Funcinpec would not compromise the elections because they were only the commune elections.
"This is not the national election to elect the Prime Minister," he said. "These are local elections and the candidates are not politicians."
Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec's secretary-general, filed the lawsuit against Ranariddh because the prince sold Funcinpec's Phnom Penh headquarters in 2004. Bun Chhay alleged that Ranariddh sold the party's headquarters without consultation with Funcinpec officials, and that this constituted a breach of trust.
Ranariddh is living in France, where he is teaching at a law school. With the trial looming it is unclear whether he will return to Cambodia. Ranariddh has twice failed to attend court when summoned for the investigation into the alleged breach of trust.
On February16, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a warrant ordering the National Police to apprehend and escort Prince Norodom Ranariddh to the court for questioning upon his return to Cambodia.
Muth Chantha, NRP's spokesman, told the Post that Phnom Penh Municipal Court has now set March 13 as the date for Ranariddh's trial - just three days before the commune council electoral campaign begins.
Chantha said he was prepared for Ranariddh's return to Cambodia but said Ranariddh had delayed returning because of perceived irregularities in the court procedure. He said Ranariddh believed the court was being manipulated by politicians in the ruling parties of the coalition government.
"We need time to examine the proceedings of the court and whether the court respects its independence and the principles of justice or not," Chantha said. "We have a strategy to prepare for the return of the prince to Cambodia."
Ranariddh resigned as President of the National Assembly on March 14, 2006, and was dismissed as co-chairman of the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC) and chairman of the National Olympic Committee.
Ranariddh was ousted from the presidency of Funcinpec on October 18, 2006. The move came after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused Ranariddh of appointing unqualified individuals to political positions and declared that Ranariddh's mistress, Ouk Phalla, was a moral embarrassment.
Ranariddh was then slapped with the Funcinpec law suit.
Chantha said Funcinpec's law suit was motivated by political revenge and jealousy because Ranariddh continued to retain strong grassroots support after losing the leadership.
Ranariddh Anandayat [KI-Media: it should be Noranaridh Anadayat], Ranariddh's public relations adviser, told the Post on March 1 that politicians from Funcinpec backed by the CPP have been trying to push Ranariddh out of politics to serve their own political interests.
Anandayat said he was optimistic that the popularity of Ranariddh at a grassroots level remains strong. He said he expected Funcinpec would be surprised because the NRP would be able to elect more than a thousand candidates to the country's 1,621 commune councils.
Anandayat said that Nhiek Bun Chhay had appealed for the court to bring Ranariddh to trial, even though the investigation had not finished.
"I think that the appeal of the member of the government has indicated that the politicians have interfered in the judicial system," Anandayat said.
He said the courts continue to violate judicial procedures and continue to be used as an instrument to defeat the opposition parties.
"Most importantly, the court is still controlled by a party of one man in power," he said.
Anandayat said international donors must consider their support for the court system, and ensure that proper reforms are established to create an open and fair judicial system. "The NRP needs justice," he said.
The NRP argues that the breach of trust allegation is false and has appealed for a mass peaceful demonstration in support of Ranariddh.
The Phnom Penh Municipality has allowed the NRP to organize a demonstration in the party's headquarters.
Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec's spokesperson, refused to comment on the case. He said it was an issue between Ranariddh, NRP and the court.
"Ranariddh is the suspect and the court will take him to trial," Sovathero said.
"If a leader of a political party cannot participate in the electoral campaign it effects both the process of the election and the supporters of that party," Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) told the Post on March 5.
Panha said that barring a political leader for political reasons from participating in the electoral campaign compromises the electoral process.
"It means the election is not free and fair and it lacks an international standard," he said.
But Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said the legal battle between NRP and Funcinpec would not compromise the elections because they were only the commune elections.
"This is not the national election to elect the Prime Minister," he said. "These are local elections and the candidates are not politicians."
Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec's secretary-general, filed the lawsuit against Ranariddh because the prince sold Funcinpec's Phnom Penh headquarters in 2004. Bun Chhay alleged that Ranariddh sold the party's headquarters without consultation with Funcinpec officials, and that this constituted a breach of trust.
Ranariddh is living in France, where he is teaching at a law school. With the trial looming it is unclear whether he will return to Cambodia. Ranariddh has twice failed to attend court when summoned for the investigation into the alleged breach of trust.
On February16, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a warrant ordering the National Police to apprehend and escort Prince Norodom Ranariddh to the court for questioning upon his return to Cambodia.
Muth Chantha, NRP's spokesman, told the Post that Phnom Penh Municipal Court has now set March 13 as the date for Ranariddh's trial - just three days before the commune council electoral campaign begins.
Chantha said he was prepared for Ranariddh's return to Cambodia but said Ranariddh had delayed returning because of perceived irregularities in the court procedure. He said Ranariddh believed the court was being manipulated by politicians in the ruling parties of the coalition government.
"We need time to examine the proceedings of the court and whether the court respects its independence and the principles of justice or not," Chantha said. "We have a strategy to prepare for the return of the prince to Cambodia."
Ranariddh resigned as President of the National Assembly on March 14, 2006, and was dismissed as co-chairman of the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC) and chairman of the National Olympic Committee.
Ranariddh was ousted from the presidency of Funcinpec on October 18, 2006. The move came after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused Ranariddh of appointing unqualified individuals to political positions and declared that Ranariddh's mistress, Ouk Phalla, was a moral embarrassment.
Ranariddh was then slapped with the Funcinpec law suit.
Chantha said Funcinpec's law suit was motivated by political revenge and jealousy because Ranariddh continued to retain strong grassroots support after losing the leadership.
Ranariddh Anandayat [KI-Media: it should be Noranaridh Anadayat], Ranariddh's public relations adviser, told the Post on March 1 that politicians from Funcinpec backed by the CPP have been trying to push Ranariddh out of politics to serve their own political interests.
Anandayat said he was optimistic that the popularity of Ranariddh at a grassroots level remains strong. He said he expected Funcinpec would be surprised because the NRP would be able to elect more than a thousand candidates to the country's 1,621 commune councils.
Anandayat said that Nhiek Bun Chhay had appealed for the court to bring Ranariddh to trial, even though the investigation had not finished.
"I think that the appeal of the member of the government has indicated that the politicians have interfered in the judicial system," Anandayat said.
He said the courts continue to violate judicial procedures and continue to be used as an instrument to defeat the opposition parties.
"Most importantly, the court is still controlled by a party of one man in power," he said.
Anandayat said international donors must consider their support for the court system, and ensure that proper reforms are established to create an open and fair judicial system. "The NRP needs justice," he said.
The NRP argues that the breach of trust allegation is false and has appealed for a mass peaceful demonstration in support of Ranariddh.
The Phnom Penh Municipality has allowed the NRP to organize a demonstration in the party's headquarters.
Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec's spokesperson, refused to comment on the case. He said it was an issue between Ranariddh, NRP and the court.
"Ranariddh is the suspect and the court will take him to trial," Sovathero said.
10 comments:
KHMENG WAT KNONG SROK
Bring Ah Hun Sen to hang first!!! because he is chief of "3H" crimimals against humanity in Cambodia
Nhek Bun Chhay
http://coupof56july.alkablog.com
http://hengpoev.alkablog.com
http://www.cambodiapolitic.org
http://cheavichea.alkablog.com
NOT ONLY CPP_ BUT WE TOO if WE HAVE OPPOTUNITY/IF WE ARE POWEFULL- POWER IN HANDS - NRP member- Former FUNCINPEC Member)
Please keep it confidential - do not allow people to hear.. .."grab the land from the poor, NOT only Powerfull CPP high rank members, BUT We Funcinpec/and or NRP members while we gain power as of past experience(1992-97) we were strong too so we grabbed, ...
We try our best to do political Business some of us from abroad inwhich is difficult for us to earn money we came here/Cambodia to earn money from politics business as some of us are royal family we must be richer.. we are impossible to drive taxi and or cyclo like ordinary citizen, we always in politics, to do politics to earn money while becoming high Rank official=being Rich we gain also ladies(whores)in oversea it is more difficult to find lady ..here easier we just spend some USD...
SO THAT IF WE GAIN POWER WE WILL GRAB LAND TOO by peaceful/or violent ways but planned to be more peaceful than CCP does and has done now... and we will get too many ladies... including daughters or wives of our paty members/ subordiates we try to do the same as OUR BOSS PREAH ANG MCHAS RANARITH.. as much as poosible or if possible...
We try our best to return to Cambodia OR some of us (Local Cambodian) try to run from one party to another/ try to pay more money for Post/position from Office Chief to Ministers and higher we sold our property to collect money to spent to our Bosss(Prah Ang Mchas...and others)we sacrifice OUR YOUNG DAUGTER For Preah Ang.. We sacrificed our Beloved Wife for Preah Ang Mchas to enjoy with them..SO WHILE GAINING POWER LIKE PM HUN SEN & HIS PARTY MEMBERS WE will DO THE SAME THING THIS IS OUR MAIN GOAL..
"NOT ONLY CPP BUT WE NRP/Funcinpec TOO- IF OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE "
From ACHA KNOY- Norodom Ranarith Party Member/Former FUNCINPEC MEMBER/OR member of Party from which I can gain money/position/ and or Future CPP member if CPP accept and OR PREVIOUS CPP Member but was ousted / and or I Applied Form to be member of CPP But no acceptance)
I can guarantee to everyone in here that this animal Rannarith will not dare to return to Cambodia. He is a liar. He will lie and lie. He is not a man but an animal.
PBS
Mr. Koul Panha, So to get away from justice we should open a party?
Ranarith the Cambodia court is not justice because is under one man power! So when it was under two men it was justice? you fool!
When Sam Rainsy spoke up against injustics and corruption in the mid 90s, Nararith helped the CPP destroyed Sam Rainsy. Now the CPP turned its attention to Nararith. At the begining of the Ameican Revolutionary War against England, Ben Franklin said of their struggle that everyone must "hang together or they will be hang seperately." People who oppose the CPP should always remember Ben's advice.
WHICH ONE DO WE CHOSE:
1- CROCODILE HUN XEN, OR
2- BROKEN TIGER RANARITH?
DO WE STUPID MORE THAN 3 TIME?
1-1993
2-1998
3-2003
4-2008?
GOOD BY, BY BY RANARITH HORNY PRINCE!
We choose none of them because they both are real crooks. One gets fake Phds and the other is French law professor but talks Lop Lop.
Exactly my point I am trying to made 12:55 and 4:39. That when injustic happened to one of us; evantually, it will happen to all of us. Either Nararith was too doubt or too corrupted by money and power, but he failed to understand that simple truth and the average Khmers is paying the price of poor leadership.
For Nararith it costed him very little if his party failed. He continue to enjoy his life in the South of France like any other Third World leaders who is out of power. POOR Cambodia!
Please people don't pick on the underdog, go and attack the real one...
Dear Respected Docteur en Political Business/ N Ranarith,
Please keep your corrupted money be secure/ and you will spend them forever, for your full Life and enjoy Sraem Phalla in France..also this heritage could be transferred to you New son Sothearith....
Do not spend any more for running Poli Business in Cambodia, you may find it difficult to gain/earn money again from your POLI-BUSINESS in Cambodia..
and if you return to your previous Dr/Professeur de POLI Business in France, I am not sure that France needs such a Resource person Like you are....
If you think that in other countries/France... is not easy to find Ladies(whores) please ask your RNP member to send from Cambodia by containers it will be cheaper. Right???
Acha Knoy
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