Funcinpec moved its headquarters to the building of the Emergency Center clinic (Photo: Khem Sovannara, Cambodge Soir)Sunday, May 13, 2007
Why does Funcinpec move to occupy an old clinic?
By Leang Delux Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French
Funcinpec left its historical headquarters last week to establish itself in the building formerly occupied by a Taiwanese clinic. In doing so, the party will not occupy the 10-hectare land for its planned new headquarters which was purchased when Prince Ranariddh was the party president.
Some will see in this move as a funny symbol, while others see in it as a worrisome sign for Funcinpec’s health condition. Keo Puth Rasmey’s party moved its headquarters last week to a building formerly occupied by a Taiwanese clinic, located close to the Ministry of Interior, along Norodom Boulevard. The former party headquarters was located along the north of Monivong Boulevard, is a long gone memory, as well as the bronze statue of Norodom Sihanouk, its historical founder. The imposing monument, which was located at the former headquarters, symbolized Funcinpec link to royalty: the statue was sent to the Royal Palace and it will see more tourists than royalists gathered to look at it.
But, why is the Funcinpec constrained to settle in the building of a former private clinic when it owns, through a contract signed by Norodom Ranariddh, its former president, with the Ly Chhuong Company, a new headquarters located in the suburb of the city? In November 2005, Prince Ranariddh signed off the sale of the former party headquarters to the Ly Chhuong Company, owned by the son-in-law of CPP MP Cheam Yeap, at a cost of $3.6 million. The entire amount was immediately re-invested to buy a 10-hectare land located in Phnom Penh suburb, at a cost of $1.2 million, and the remaining $2.4 million will be used to pay the construction company to build the new headquarters. Nevertheless, Funcinpec left its former headquarters without claiming its new lands, and it settled in this former clinic at a cost of $4,000 per month.
According to Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, this move was unavoidable. If one were to believe him, the land occupied by the former headquarters now belongs to Ly Chhuong who demands it, whereas the promised new headquarters is not built yet. “We left with heavy heart,” he said. According to Nouv Sovathero, the 18-month jail sentence handed to Norodom Ranariddh in March for breach of contrast related to this sale – a lawsuit which was brought up by Funcinpec – delayed the construction work on the new land. Between the lawsuit, the 13 March sentence, and the 75-day appeal period, “nothing was built.” The time frame that Norodom Ranariddh has to appeal will expire in less than two weeks, and Ly Chhuong will then be able to claim the land of the former party headquarters … without yet building the new one.
“$6 million sum”
The explanation surprised the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). According to Liv Sovanna, the prince’s lawyer who supervised the transaction, the contract clearly stipulates that no moving can be done as long as the new buildings are not ready for moving in. To Ok Socheat, the prince advisor, the reason for this move is simple: money. “Funcinpec wants to sell the 10-hectare land. This is a big business which will bring in a lot of money. We bought this land at $1.2 million. Now it is worth $4 million. Assuming that Ly Chhuong will return back the $2 million planned for the building of the new headquarters, this will make it a total of $6 million. That’s enough to bankroll the [election] campaign for the upcoming general election,” Ok Socheat explained.
The Bona Realty Group valued the price of the land at the beginning of this year at the request of Ly Touch, a former Funcinpec member in the government, and it confirms that the price of the land is worth about $4 million. According to one of its party members, Funcinpec has no plan to move again. Even if the party decided to buy the building it currently occupies, it will still have enough left to endure this dire time. Ironically, Funcinpec has its former president to thank for its current savings.
Some will see in this move as a funny symbol, while others see in it as a worrisome sign for Funcinpec’s health condition. Keo Puth Rasmey’s party moved its headquarters last week to a building formerly occupied by a Taiwanese clinic, located close to the Ministry of Interior, along Norodom Boulevard. The former party headquarters was located along the north of Monivong Boulevard, is a long gone memory, as well as the bronze statue of Norodom Sihanouk, its historical founder. The imposing monument, which was located at the former headquarters, symbolized Funcinpec link to royalty: the statue was sent to the Royal Palace and it will see more tourists than royalists gathered to look at it.
But, why is the Funcinpec constrained to settle in the building of a former private clinic when it owns, through a contract signed by Norodom Ranariddh, its former president, with the Ly Chhuong Company, a new headquarters located in the suburb of the city? In November 2005, Prince Ranariddh signed off the sale of the former party headquarters to the Ly Chhuong Company, owned by the son-in-law of CPP MP Cheam Yeap, at a cost of $3.6 million. The entire amount was immediately re-invested to buy a 10-hectare land located in Phnom Penh suburb, at a cost of $1.2 million, and the remaining $2.4 million will be used to pay the construction company to build the new headquarters. Nevertheless, Funcinpec left its former headquarters without claiming its new lands, and it settled in this former clinic at a cost of $4,000 per month.
According to Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, this move was unavoidable. If one were to believe him, the land occupied by the former headquarters now belongs to Ly Chhuong who demands it, whereas the promised new headquarters is not built yet. “We left with heavy heart,” he said. According to Nouv Sovathero, the 18-month jail sentence handed to Norodom Ranariddh in March for breach of contrast related to this sale – a lawsuit which was brought up by Funcinpec – delayed the construction work on the new land. Between the lawsuit, the 13 March sentence, and the 75-day appeal period, “nothing was built.” The time frame that Norodom Ranariddh has to appeal will expire in less than two weeks, and Ly Chhuong will then be able to claim the land of the former party headquarters … without yet building the new one.
“$6 million sum”
The explanation surprised the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). According to Liv Sovanna, the prince’s lawyer who supervised the transaction, the contract clearly stipulates that no moving can be done as long as the new buildings are not ready for moving in. To Ok Socheat, the prince advisor, the reason for this move is simple: money. “Funcinpec wants to sell the 10-hectare land. This is a big business which will bring in a lot of money. We bought this land at $1.2 million. Now it is worth $4 million. Assuming that Ly Chhuong will return back the $2 million planned for the building of the new headquarters, this will make it a total of $6 million. That’s enough to bankroll the [election] campaign for the upcoming general election,” Ok Socheat explained.
The Bona Realty Group valued the price of the land at the beginning of this year at the request of Ly Touch, a former Funcinpec member in the government, and it confirms that the price of the land is worth about $4 million. According to one of its party members, Funcinpec has no plan to move again. Even if the party decided to buy the building it currently occupies, it will still have enough left to endure this dire time. Ironically, Funcinpec has its former president to thank for its current savings.
2 comments:
Do mair Ah chors!
Kandouch mair ah chors louch cheat!
Kon Me rontair banch!
Just a party internal affair. We
don't give a damn what they are
doing.
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