By Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 December 2008
The appointment of princes and princesses to positions at the Royal Palace, effectively removing them from politics while preserving the royal image, has generally been welcomed, but views differ on whether a law should be put in place to officially keep them out.
In general, many royal family members have decided to leave positions in political parties, as advised by former king Norodom Sihanouk, said Prince Norodom Sirivuth, but they should still be allowed to express their ideas for the national interest.
"I myself am delighted and congratulate seeing the royal families help the king and the monarchy with some work that is non-political," he said. "I believe for sure that the government would support this move,because royal family members should have some role to serve the nation outside of politics."
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who had been the most politically influential royal outside his father, Norodom Sihanouk, recently recused himself from politics and was promoted by King Norodom Sihamoni to supreme adviser, with a rank equal to prime minister.
Aside from him and Norodom Sirivuth, 25 other princes and princesses have been appointed as royal advisers, said Prince Sisowath Thomico,himself an adviser to the king.
Nguon Nhil, first vice president of the National Assembly, hailed the appointments of royals away from politics as a good move, adding that the appointments were not initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"Maybe His Majesty wishes for royal family members to stay in a cycle out of politics," he said. "If they stay in politics, inevitably there will be clashes that will have an impact on the image of the monarchy."
A law defining the work of royals and the expenses for their work was not unreasonable, he said, as the number of appointments was increasing.
Hun Sen has already said he would support a law to bar royals from politics, Nguon Nhil said.
"If there is no clearly defined law, they could become a group practicing politics from within the Royal Palace," he said. "There should be something to define them, with such a definition to prevent princes and princesses from politicking, which could damage the images of the Sisowath and Norodom bloodlines."
Sisowath Thomico said the appointments did not mean that royals would stop serving the nation through other initiatives that were not directly competitive with politics. This natural turning point was better than creating a prohibition, which would run counter to a constitution that guarantees each citizen the right to political involvement, he said. Such a law would also be a waste of human resources, he added, as many royals have high levels of education.
"The present leaders of the nation should give a clear definition of what politics are," he said. "If royal family members take leadership roles in activities in culture, health, education and humanitarianism,are they practicing politics? If the government doesn't want us to do anything, they can just open a museum and put all the royal family members into it and just sell tickets."
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director for Cambodian Defenders Project, said creating a law to ban any group of people from politics would be unconstitutional. "It would be better to find a solution other than creating such a law," he said. "Another solution would demonstrate that our country is continuing on the path of liberal democracy."
Sisowath Thomico, meanwhile, said history showed that when Cambodia was invaded by foreign countries, or underwent some kind of chaos, it was the royal family, representing national unity and hope, that was most popular. That was not the case, he said, in a time of independence and peace.
In general, many royal family members have decided to leave positions in political parties, as advised by former king Norodom Sihanouk, said Prince Norodom Sirivuth, but they should still be allowed to express their ideas for the national interest.
"I myself am delighted and congratulate seeing the royal families help the king and the monarchy with some work that is non-political," he said. "I believe for sure that the government would support this move,because royal family members should have some role to serve the nation outside of politics."
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who had been the most politically influential royal outside his father, Norodom Sihanouk, recently recused himself from politics and was promoted by King Norodom Sihamoni to supreme adviser, with a rank equal to prime minister.
Aside from him and Norodom Sirivuth, 25 other princes and princesses have been appointed as royal advisers, said Prince Sisowath Thomico,himself an adviser to the king.
Nguon Nhil, first vice president of the National Assembly, hailed the appointments of royals away from politics as a good move, adding that the appointments were not initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"Maybe His Majesty wishes for royal family members to stay in a cycle out of politics," he said. "If they stay in politics, inevitably there will be clashes that will have an impact on the image of the monarchy."
A law defining the work of royals and the expenses for their work was not unreasonable, he said, as the number of appointments was increasing.
Hun Sen has already said he would support a law to bar royals from politics, Nguon Nhil said.
"If there is no clearly defined law, they could become a group practicing politics from within the Royal Palace," he said. "There should be something to define them, with such a definition to prevent princes and princesses from politicking, which could damage the images of the Sisowath and Norodom bloodlines."
Sisowath Thomico said the appointments did not mean that royals would stop serving the nation through other initiatives that were not directly competitive with politics. This natural turning point was better than creating a prohibition, which would run counter to a constitution that guarantees each citizen the right to political involvement, he said. Such a law would also be a waste of human resources, he added, as many royals have high levels of education.
"The present leaders of the nation should give a clear definition of what politics are," he said. "If royal family members take leadership roles in activities in culture, health, education and humanitarianism,are they practicing politics? If the government doesn't want us to do anything, they can just open a museum and put all the royal family members into it and just sell tickets."
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director for Cambodian Defenders Project, said creating a law to ban any group of people from politics would be unconstitutional. "It would be better to find a solution other than creating such a law," he said. "Another solution would demonstrate that our country is continuing on the path of liberal democracy."
Sisowath Thomico, meanwhile, said history showed that when Cambodia was invaded by foreign countries, or underwent some kind of chaos, it was the royal family, representing national unity and hope, that was most popular. That was not the case, he said, in a time of independence and peace.
16 comments:
oh mine! that is such a good question! it seems that during time of peace, all of a sudden, a lot of people came out! where were they when cambodia needs them the most? that is a really good question, my dear! a profound question, indeed! thank you.
They were running and hiding in France, China, North Korea, Russia, and some parts of eastern bloc.
I agree with Thomico that everyone is free ,has equal right and has equal opportunity in front of the law. Therefore anyone can involve in politic with state protection of their personal safety and personal security. But for all royal family members who want to join politic, they are the same to loose their royal title completely. In reality only royal family members where their direct parents are the present King of Cambodia, the children would have called prince and princess. If their parents are the present king and the Queen, they cannot bear the word prince or princess anymore. Example all Sisowath family shouldn't have the title prince or princess anymore because none of their parents are the king or Queen.
All Sihanouk'children cannot also bear that title too after Sihanouk left the trone. Only King Sihamony'children can be called Prince or Princess. Everyone else would have to call Mr or Mrs or miss. If we carry call everyone Prince or princess, we should open a human ZOO like Thomico has said and have to sell tickets to tourists to keep them alive. Areak Prey
This appear like during Khmer Rough time again, Parents and religion are not involved with Angkar. Parents and Buddhist monks were destroyed. Now, it is again, all royal family members are being ruled not to involve with politic.
To practise fair democracy, every one have a right to invole with politic if h/she wants to.
Cambodian Civil alone, Millitry alone, Royal members alone, and Buddhist Religion alone, all cannot do politic for a country alone. Altogether must join hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder to make Cambodia strong.
Every khmer can practise democracy, except The Royal Family.
Because, The Royal family are too Hither from haven they look to ordinary khmer like dirt and dust. Example Like one of Norodom said " I don't obey Buddha, Because Budda born from the king". The king and king family is higher or biger than Buddha.
To prince Tomico ,
Are you pretend to be stupid or natural stupid?
Here the answer Sihaknuk and Monique were the king and queen of khmer rouge and aligning with Viet Cong so those two were khmer rouge ,any further questions?
Hey can I pet them at the zoo royal???????
I promise not to feed them with neukmam!
Once again, it's Thomico speaking and needing attention. He says so much that it's always wishy-washy talk and bullshit. Everything that comes out of the mouths of the royalists these days isn't even worth listening to.
If a country and any country is democratic. Every individual should be able to practice any form of services whether it political or non-political services. As long as every single individual contribute to society.
oh men this is the siple question,, the royal family were also killed by KR regime. Thay were over 50 royal family dead...don't you know about this...that is stupid,,,don't alway blam the royal family because they love the country the same as you....
should give this question to Sam Rainsy too.
3:21am, your ideas are very rational. I agreed with you 90%, except the part you said children of former kings cannot have the title of princes or princesses. I totally agree that all children of princes and princesses, should not have the title of princes/princesses, like in Thailand, Japan or England. But the children of ex-kings should have the title of prices/princesses like in Thailand, Japan or England. The sister of the present Thai king named Galyani, who had just passed way, still hold the title of princess. Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II who was the daughter of the ex-king, still hold the title of Princess. If what you rationalized are right, then all the children of ex-kings have to be stripped off their royal title after the father died or abdicate- this is not right. In England, the children of the ex-kings hold the title of prices/princesses. And the children and grandchildren of the present king/queen still hold that title like Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and Princess Anne. The grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II like Prince William, Prince Harry from Prince Charles and Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice who are the daughters of Prince Andrew still hold the title of Princess. In England, the direct descendants of the kings/queens can hold prices/princesses title, including their children/grandchildren, if the father is the son of the kings/queens. In England, those who are not direct descendants of the kings/queens, like cousins of the kings/queens, will be called Viscount/Viscountess, Count/Countess, Earl, Duke and Duchess etc. In Cambodia, aal of the Sisowath would lose their royal titles already because they remotely rleated to king Sisowath or King Monivong. They are not directly related to those two kings because they passed away a long time ago and most of the present Sisowaths were born from concubines, not born from princesses. Sihanouk's children from his legally-wedded wife, which I don't know which one, should be the only ones who can hold the prices/princesses title. Children from his non-royal wives, I know there are plenty, should only hold the title of neak ong mchas (viscount/duke..etc), not princes/princesses.
To answer the question KI and its anti-royalists already know the answer to but pretend not to acknowledge it: They were in house arrests and concentration camps just like the rest of us. And just like the rest of us, some of them escaped to a western country from the KR persecution. Check your western history books before projecting your stereotypical republican opinions.
3:21am, i like your view here. yes, that would make a lot of sense to allow only the direct decendent of the active king and queen to be called prince and princess through their parents. i think if this kind of law become effective and spelled out in the national constitution, then cambodia can solve one of its most heineous, political bickering in our cambodia's history because it seem, as historical evidences suggested that princes and princesses always fight one an other for power, although they are not really in a direct line to become reigning king or queen. this idea can help to alleviate some of the most troublesome area of succession in the history of cambodia. this way too, cambodia can still enjoy having king and queen, despite our new way or new thinking in this new millenium and new chapter of our khmer history. that is an excellent concept to make into law to only allow direct decendant of a reigning king and queen to succeed on the throne, symbolically, of course. and of course their marriage have to be officially recognized as well in order for the success decendant, not concubine or whatever. the key word is "official" recognized by the nation and people of cambodia and by the constitution, of course. lawmakers should debate this controversial issue in parliament as it is a great concept to put into law. thank you.
if there's no direct heir to the throne, then let the people of the cambodia and the law decide that, not a few special interest group of people or whatever! remember to always use the constitution to solve problem; that's why it was created for in the first place! thank you.
Dear Poster 3:14AM,
I agree with you that only constitution law can make a line across the sand to make people to aware the boundery of the law. But before having any law makers to take this isuue more seriously, people like you and I need to lobby them to introduce either a Government legislation or a private member bill or a re-peal of the constitution. We cannot accepte to have thousands of idiots to be called Prince and princess. we need to make a evaluation of their quality and their link to the regne King. At present there so many idiots are pretending to be Prince and Princess but in reality their personality are not even worth to a pet in the Zoo. They need to be trained for their behavious and their mental problems to comply for a good citizen. Areak Prey
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