Prince Ranariddh’s sentence worries observers

Thursday, March 15, 2007

By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Click here to read the original Cambodge Soir article in French

Politicians and observers alike said that they are worried about the 18-month sentence handed to Prince Ranariddh on the eve of the commune election. Some see in this verdict a political pressure.

The day after Prince Ranariddh’s 18-month jail sentence by the Phnom Penh municipal court, worries dominate the feelings of political leaders and observers alike.

“This shows to both the national and international public that the ruling party uses the court against its political foes,” Prince Thomico, president the Sankum Jatiniyum Front Party, said. “Now, it’s Prince Ranariddh, next time, it will be me because we are representing an open opposition against the government.” Prince Thomico went on to stress that “the court does not have sufficient proof” to justify such sentence. “All the Cambodian people are worried [about the political evolution in Cambodia]. All these events stir up instability and insecurity,” Prince Thomico added.

On his part, Sam Rainsy hesitates between criticizing the fault of the former president of the National Assembly and the sentence. “Prince Ranariddh is not a saint who would be 100% innocent in the corruption affairs within his [former] party. But numerous officials working in the current administration are also corrupt. “Why are they not judged? That’s not fair. That’s because our court [system] is not independent. If it is not corrupt, it is at least under political pressure,” Sam Rainsy said. The SRP leader was himself sentenced earlier to 18-month jail term before being pardoned by the king. Norodom Ranariddh received the same sentence, but he was also ordered to pay $150,000 in damage compensation to the Funcinpec, following the complaint brought by Nhiek Bun Chhay for breach of trust in the sale of the party’s headquarters.

In an interview given to Radio France International, Prince Ranariddh who is currently overseas, said that he is not surprised by the sentence and that he considers it as “an attempt by Hun Sen to destabilize [him] politically, through the court system, just like in 1997.” “This tactics is aimed at preventing me from participating in the 2007 and 2008 elections,” the Prince told RFI.

Similarly, during a press conference held yesterday, the Comfrel NGO considers the sentence handed to Prince Ranariddh “who is suffering from Hun Sen’s power grip,” “is becoming a political issue preventing Prince Ranariddh from participating in the electoral campaign.”

“We are questioning the independence of the court which handed down this sentence to coincide with the [commune] election. This creates difficulties for some political parties while leaving others to continue on their activities freely,” Kek Galabru, President of the Licadho NGO, stressed.

Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and CPP spokesman, rejected the various criticisms of various observers. “Which points did they base on to dare say that this sentence is political? Is it only because it involves Prince Ranariddh that they are so worried about? They demanded the application and the respect of the law. Well, now, we are acting according to the law,” Khieu Kanharith reacted.

Yesterday, a CTN TV reporter provided details on the attempt of reconciliation to patch up Ranariddh and Hun Sen in this affair. According to the reporter, the prince’s attitude led to the failure of this reconciliation attempt.