Cambodian prince quits politics for second time [-Le prince est castré, vive la saison des amours des royalos!!!]

Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh (L), president of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), and his wife Ouk Phalla (back R) smile after casting their votes at a polling station in Phnom Penh in June 2012. Ranariddh on Friday announced that he was quitting politics for a second time after he was perceived as an obstacle to a merger between royalist parties

AFP –08/10/2012

Ranariddh on Friday announced that he was quitting politics for a second time after he was perceived as an obstacle to a merger between royalist parties.

The son of beloved former king Norodom Sihanouk agreed in May to combine his eponymous Norodom Ranariddh Party with Funcinpec in a bid to reinvigorate the royalist movement ahead of next year's general elections.

"I would like to announce, from now on, that I stop doing politics and will not take responsibility for any work and decisions made by the Norodom Ranariddh Party any more," Ranariddh said in a statement.

Announcing the fusion of the royalist parties: The R.I.P. party

Funcinpec-NRP merger: Dead On Arrival (DOA)

Cambodia's royalist party merger plan likely to fail: party officials

2012-6-18
Xinhua

The merger plan between the two royalist parties--Funcinpec Party and Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) -- ahead of next year's general election is likely to fail because the NRP's core activists have different political stance, Nhiek Bun Chhay, executive president of the Funcinpec, said Monday.

He revealed that among the NRP's core activists, there are two groups: one sides with the current government and the other has opposition trend.

Reunion of the royalist party hits an impasse

(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

25 Dec 2010
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Two weeks after returning to politics by Prince Ranariddh, the progress of the unification between the two royalist parties is hitting an impasse. Funcinpec which belongs to Nhiek Bun Chhay still refuses to join with the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). Nevertheless, Prince Ranariddh is still looking for a way to achieve this unification, but up to now, only verbal dispute is being exchanged between the pair.

The fighting brother-enemy parties are not looking for a unification as of yet. Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, claimed that he is not supporting the return of Prince Ranariddh to politics and does not believe in the ability to unite with the prince’s party.

To Nhiek Bun Chhay, the formation of Funcinpec-81, as proposed by the prince, is tantamount to starting politics from scratch again. This is why Nhiek Bun Chhay’s clan in the Funcinpec refused to join the NRP under the new banner of Funcinpec 81 at this time.

Nevertheless, Pen Sangha, the NRP spokesman, claimed today that the prince is continuing his mission to unite the royalists without any change yet. The NRP spokesman called on Nhiek Bun Chhay’s Funcinpec clan to signal their intention to start the negotiations in this issue. He warned that if Funcinpec still refuses to unite, then the Prince has no choice but to bring in the royalists to his party’s side.

Prince Ranariddh was voted in as the leader of the NRP party which bears his name once again on 11 December, following his 2-year hiatus from politics and his nomination as supreme advisor to the king. Immediately after becoming the NRP president, the prince publicly announced to high-ranking NRP officials to prepare a letter of intent with the Funcinpec in order to form the new Funcinpec-81 party with the merger of the current Funcinpec party and the NRP.

However, Funcinpec, which is now in an alliance with Hun Xen’s CPP party, immediately turned down the prince’s proposal. Since then, the brother-enemy parties could no longer find a way to talk to each other anymore.

Old name, new name ... SAME royal "crap"

Funcinpec and Nationalist Party to merge in 2011 with a new name

Thursday, 2 December 2010
By Khmerization
Source: RFA

The two royalist parties, Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party, plan to hold a joint congress in the beginning of next year to formally merge the two party and take up a new name.

Funcinpec Party president Keo Put Rasmy (pictured) told RFA on Wednesday 1st December that, the newly-merged party will invite Prince Norodom Ranariddh to become its president.

In a press release on 8th November, Prince Ranaridhh said he will not return to politics and will not be a candidate for the party presidency of the newly-merged party. However, in a letter dated 29th November to Mr. Chhim Siekleng, president of the Nationalist Party, Prince Ranariddh said he agreed for the use of his name as the new party name, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, but did not indicate whether he will return to politics or will agree to become the president of the new party or not.

What royalist parties? Aren't they Hun Xen's doormats?

Funcinpec's Nhiek Bun Chhay (L) and NP's You Hockry (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

Royalist Parties Plan Pre-Election Congress

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 08 November 2010

“If the prince returns to join Funcinpec, we must receive more and more votes.” (sic!)

Members of the Funcinpec and Nationalist parties say they plan to have a congress early next year to explore ways the two royalist parties can improve their election chances in 2012 and 2013.

Both parties suffered major defeats in the 2008 national election, each earning only two National Assembly seats, following a division when Funcinpec’s former president, Prince Norodom Ranarridh, formed his own party.

The Norodom Ranariddh Party has changed its name to the Nationalist Party, with Norodom Ranariddh leaving politics for a position with the Royal Cabinet.

“The congress aims to bring the two parties for reunification before the 2012 commune elections and 2013 national election,” Nationalist Party Vice President You Hockry said Monday.

The parties would like to see Norodom Ranariddh return to politics, he said, “but it is up to the prince’s decision whether he returns to politics or not.”

Norodom Ranariddh left the political arena after he was granted a royal pardon from an 18-month jail sentence stemming from the illegal sale of Funcinpec party headquarters.

“We all really want the prince to return to politics,” You Hockry said.

A spokesman for Norodom Ranariddh said the prince “has no intention to return to politics.”

Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bunchhay said the congress will also mean an election of a party president. He predicted the royalists could win “at least 17 National Assembly seats in 2013” if the parties join under one banner.

“If the prince returns to join Funcinpec, we must receive more and more votes,” he added.

A loser-prince opposes the alliance of two losing royalist parties

Ranariddh's statement in Khmer (Click to zoom in)

Letter from Chhim Siek Leng, NRP president to Ranariddh

Loser-Prince Norodom Ranariddh, at a rally in Phnom Penh during the final day of campaigning in the national elections in 2003. (Photo: AP)

Ranariddh Opposes Alliance of Royalist Parties
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 23 August 2010

“A combination would make us lose the voice of supporters and the name and honor of the party.”

Prince Norodom Ranariddh announced his opposition to the formation of a single royalist party on Monday, claiming the Nationalist Party that he formed but no longer leads should remain separate from the traditional Funcinpec.

“A combination would make us lose the voice of supporters and the name and honor of the party,” he said in a statement.

Norodom Ranariddh's statement comes after a Constitutional Council announcement Aug. 4 claiming that any party that merges with another will be removed from the Ministry of Interior's list of political organizations.

Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party have been working for reconciliation, announcing in June they would form an alliance to help move voters back toward the royalist parties following a poor showing in 2008's national polls.

Funcinpec was the leading political party when Cambodia emerged from decades of war, garnering 58 of 120 National Assembly seats in the UN-backed election of 1993. But the party was divided when Norodom Ranariddh left in 2006 under allegations of corruption.

The parties competed against each other in the 2008 election, winning only two seats each. Officials from each party maintained on Monday they would be working together.

“We explained to the prince this morning that the combination will not lead to the loss of the party, as the agreement ensures the sovereignty and identity of each party,” said Pen Sang Ha, spokesman for the Nationalist Party.

Funcinpec President Keo Put Reaksmey said the parties had up until six months ahead of the election to combine. The two parties have already been organizing on a grass roots level in the provinces of Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom.

“We will make a common list of candidates for the commune elections in 2012,” he said.

The statement was one of the prince's first steps into a political issue since 2008, when he left the National Party, which was then named after Norodom Ranariddh, and was made a senior adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni.

The prince's cabinet chief, Norannaridh Anandayath, said Monday the statement was “not an intervention in politics.”

The royalist party is dead ... Long life its skeleton!?!

Nhiek Bun Chhay greeting Hun Xen (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Royalist poll merger begins at provincial level

Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

THE Kingdom’s two royalist parties have moved to integrate their sub-national organisations in Prey Veng province, the first step in a plan to merge fully prior to elections scheduled for 2012 and 2013, party officials said.

The Nationalist Party and Funcinpec, which split in acrimony in 2006, agreed last month to reunite under the banner of the Funcinpec-Nationalist Alliance in order to bolster their returns in future polls.

Nhek Bun Chhay, secretary general of the alliance, said that at a meeting in Prey Veng on Sunday, the party marked the formation of a merged provincial election working group and provincial committee, which will field a single set of candidates in the 2012 commune council elections.

“The alliance’s organisation of its basic structure also aims to re-enlist supporters and votes after being separated for a period of time,” he said yesterday.

He added that the alliance would soon merge its operations in other provinces across the country, though he did not say which province would be targeted next.

Pen Sangha, spokesman for the Nationalist Party, predicted that the move would pave the way for success at the 2012 commune council elections, which will be followed by national elections in 2013.

“From now on, the management and members of the alliance at the basic level will have enough time to get ready to work together in order to reach our common goals in the upcoming elections,” he said.

The fortunes of the royalists have declined sharply since Funcinpec won the 1993 election under the leadership of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and the party has lost seats in every election since.

In 2006, Norodom Ranariddh was expelled from the party after being convicted of embezzling party funds, and he formed his own party.

In the 2008 national elections, Funcinpec and the new Norodom Ranariddh Party – later rebranded the Nationalist Party – won just five National Assembly seats between them.

Koul Panha, executive director of local election monitor Comfrel, said the alliance would likely lead to better election results.

The royalist parties are dead, long life their alliance?!?!

Keo Puth Rasmey (L) and Chhim Siek Leng (R) (Photo: Free Press Magazine Online)

Funcinpec president called on nationalists and democrats to unite

07 June 2010
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On Monday afternoon, the Funcinpec party president called on nationalists and democrats to unite in a single alliance.

In a speech delivered during the signing of the union between Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party (aka Norodom Ranariddh Party) at the Funcinpec party headquarters, Keo Puth Rasmey, Funcinpec president, declared that the current alliance is not just limited to between the two brother-parties, but also to gather various nationalists and democrats to build and develop the country.

During the occasion, Keo Puth Raskey called on all nationalists and democrats to unite as one in order to win the upcoming election.

Regarding the call above, Kem Sokha, HRP president, supports it, however, he indicated that his party can unite with these two parties only if Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party become independent from the government. “I want to see Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party – that want to unite with democrats – let go their hands from the communist first.”

At the same time, Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP Secretary-general, declared that the SRP is opened to all political parties that want to unite with the SRP.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Pa-Hee Min See Luy

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Same old corrupt faces, same old name, same old bought out politicians: The royalist "NEW" movement?

Old man Lu Laysreng helped engineer the demise of Funcinpec (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

The royalists must unite: Lu Laysreng

10 April 2010
By Jean François Tain
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy

In response to questions asked byRFI’s Jean François Tain, Lu Laysreng, Funcinpec vice-president, claimed that Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party (formerly Norodom Ranariddh Party) which was a leftover from the disunity within Funcinpec during the 2008 election, must unite with each other. According to Lu Laysreng, following the merger between the two parties, the royalists will call their new political movement “Funcinpec”, its old name.

Click here to listen to the interview in Khmer

Khmer Intelligence News - 09 April 2010

KHMER INTELLIGENCE NEWS

09 April 2010

Cambodia recovers a strip of her territory in Svay Rieng province (2)

A recent border incident -- uprooting of “temporary border posts” by opposition parliamentarians and protesting villagers in Svay Rieng province in October 2009 -- and the subsequent investigation involving international independent experts into the controversial border demarcation process over the last few years, have resulted in Cambodia’s recovering a 10-kilometer-long, 500-meter-wide strip of her territory. However, for face-saving reasons, government border authorities are reluctant to recognize the new situation and are tentatively giving inconsistent explanations to the fact that “temporary border posts” # 184, 185, 186 and 187 have been moved back toward the East by 570 m, 516 m, 720 m and 510 m respectively. See related documents at http://tinyurl.com/yyoqa2n

China behind improvement in relations between Cambodia and Thailand (2)

Two reliable diplomatic sources have indicated that China recently put strong pressure on the Cambodian government to stop stirring up trouble in Thailand by openly interfering in the neighbouring country’s internal affairs. China wants to preserve peace and stability in South-East Asia and wants to prevent Vietnam from gaining more influence in the region. Vietnam is believed to be behind Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s aggressive behaviour aimed at weakening Thailand. This was already the case in the violent anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh in January 2003.

Hun Sen expects oil revenue from Chevron to help finance CPP election campaign in 2012 (2)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this week he would terminate his country's contract with Chevron if the US energy giant does not begin oil production from offshore fields by late 2012. This warning is just a way to tell Chevron to be ready to help finance the ruling CPP campaign for the 2013 general elections in Cambodia.

CPP behind merger of “royalist” parties (2)

The ruling CPP is currently pushing Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party (formally Norodom Ranariddh Party) to merge at the latest in 2012. The CPP needs a better-looking coalition partner under the form of a single and united “royalist” party. But in fact, the partner will keep having no power whatsoever, its only role being a pure endorsement of the former communist party in a more credible manner. The so-called royalist movement has been going down the drain not because of its internal divisions based on personal interests as reflected in party names, but because of its general and mercantile subservience to the CPP.

A Cambodian fake witness before the French Court (2)

At a court hearing in Paris on 25 March 2010, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong, who is engaged in a defamation lawsuit against opposition leader Sam Rainsy, surprisingly came with Prince Sisowath Chittara as a “witness”. Prince Sisowath Chittara told the French Judges that, during the Khmer Rouge era, he was incarcerated in a “death camp” in Cambodia. He “explained” to the Judges how such a camp functioned and how the Khmer Rouge chose a leader among the camp prisoners. The “witness” did all this with the aim of “proving the innocence” of Mr. Hor Nam Hong who, between 1977 and 1979, left his mark in the Boeng Trabek re-education camp. However, a 1986 book by Retired King Norodom Sihanouk titled “Prisoner of the Khmer Rouge,” proves that Prince Sisowath Chittara blatantly lied to the French Justice. See related evidence in French with translation in English at http://tinyurl.com/y9q6mnx

Hor Nam Hong might be the first top government official to appear before the ECCC (2)

Hoping to win the above-mentioned defamation lawsuit in France, Mr. Hor Nam Hong might finally accept to appear as a witness before the ECCC (the international tribunal in Cambodia) in order to show the French Judges in Paris his good will and consistency. He would then have to answer some questions such as:

- Why not help international justice – the only one that is independent and credible in Cambodia – to lift somewhat the cryptic assessment made by [most authoritative expert] Father François Ponchaud on you: “The role of Hor Nam Hong at Boeng Trabek is not clear”? (http://www.eurasie.net/webzine/spip.php?article824)

- Why not give the Tribunal convincing evidence to answer the question that [well-known French reporter] François Deron openly asked about your role at the Boeng Trabek prison camp when he talked about the need to “sort out between the Kapos and the real prisoners, between the cowards and the victims”? (The Khmer Rouge Trial – Thirty years of investigation into the Cambodian genocide, Gallimard, 2009).

- Why not discuss calmly with the judge the accusations made against you by your former co-prisoner Keo Bunthouk who said that, through your denunciations to the Khmer Rouge, you "sent children and adults [from the Boeng Trabek community] to the Tuol Sleng torture prison (...), and no one came back" ? (The Cambodia Daily, 13-14 January 2001, "Senate Continues Spirited Debate on KR Bill").

See list of possible questions to Mr. Hor Nam Hong in French and English at http://tinyurl.com/yk7wr2u

[End]

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Unity for 2013

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

F'pec-NRP: The brother-ennemy parties?

Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 2/02/2009: Lu Laysreng, former Minister of Rural Development and current First Deputy President at FUNCINPEC, with NRP president Chhim Siek Leng, toasting after the NRP (Norodom Ranariddh Party) and FUNCINPEC MoU ceremony at the FUNCINPEC headquarters. (Photo: John Vink/ Magnum)

Royalist parties of Cambodia want to approach May elections hand in hand

02-02-2009
By Duong Sokha
Ka-set in English

After the creation on January 15th of the Democratic Movement for Change by the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, it is now the turn of the FUNCINPEC and the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) to come together, with, in perspective, the next Cambodian local elections in May. The leaders of both parties met on Monday February 2nd at the FUNCINPEC headquarters in Phnom Penh and signed a royalist Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their political formations, after which the parties' respective leaders, Keo Puth Rasmey (FUNCINPEC) and Chhim Siek Leng (NRP), duly celebrated with a toast.

“Brotherly” parties

After signing the MoU, FUNCINPEC president Keo Puth Rasmey, caught by journalists, explained that the parties had been like two “brothers” ever since the creation of the NRP, the most recent formation out of the two. He presented this unity of strength as a strategy to better establish their position in the May elections for new councils in the capital, municipalities, provinces and districts of Cambodia, which will be conducted on the basis of indirect suffrage. “This is a cooperation, not an alliance”, he insisted, putting forward the fact that their formations were realistic and did not aim, by uniting, “to compete with other political parties”.

Expecting better results in the elections

FUNCINPEC secretary-general Nhek Bun Chhay called for his part to learn a lesson from the past. “We have in the past been divided: it is an experience that we must think through. If our two parties had got together in the last legislative elections, we would not have got two seats each but 17 altogether! Having said that, this new cooperation does not affect in any way relations between FUNCINPEC and the CPP...” And to him, there is no doubt that this cooperation will pay off. According to his projections, FUNCINPEC and NRP together could score three times better in May than if the FUNCINPEC presented an election list under a single name.

Not a reaction to the opposition Movement

NRP secretary-general You Hockry emphasised the same line of argument and offered his own projections for the elections, explaining that each party had something to gain from this MoU. Each party had as a matter of fact set up a technical group to discuss the terms of the cooperation, he detailed. “I do not want to see that cooperation die before the elections!”, he stressed, claiming that the new bonds tied by the two parties claiming to be royalist were in no way a “response” to the recent creation of the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC).