The telecoms tycoon : Dealings over two decades

Thaksin and Hun Sen (file photo : epa)

October 23, 2009
By Don Pathan
The Nation

Bilateral ties at a new low, thanks to 'ruthless' PM and the 'trusty' Chavalit

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hit back yesterday at controversial remarks by Cambodian PM Hun Sen. His comments - see the story below - are just the latest blip in years of rocky ties, in which ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been a key player.

Relations between Thaksin and Hun Sen go back nearly two decades when the former was an up-and-coming businessman trying to align himself with important people.

It started with lucrative business contracts in the area of telecommunication with the Vietnamese-installed government in Phnom Penh at the time Hun Sen was top man on the hill.

And when it was time to lay a new foundation for the war-torn country through the UN-sponsored election in 1993, Thaksin was a supporter of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Hun Sen lost to Prince Norodom Ranariddh's Funcinpec Party but was able to muscle his way in to become a "co-prime minister".

Ranariddh being PM meant the end of Thaksin's telecom and cable TV deal in the country, which he obtained through the help of the prime minister's half brother Prince Jakrapong before the 1993 election.

The cancellation was a set-back but it wasn't everything. Thaksin waited for his turn to reap whatever he could in Cambodia.

In mid-1994, bickering between Hun Sen and Jakrapong brought Thaksin back in the spotlight. There were allegations that Thaksin had financed a coup against Hun Sen. Jakrapong fled to Malaysia. A couple of Thai nationals working for Thaksin in Cambodia were detained but later released.

Thaksin denied meddling in Cambodia's internal affairs. No one knows if Hun Sen actually believed him. Perhaps for the sake of continuity, Hun Sen permitted the issue to pass by without really getting to the bottom of the allegation.

Noted Cambodia scholar Stephen Heder once described Hun Sen in stark terms: "He is both a competent political administrator and a ruthless political criminal."

Indeed, this former Khmer Rogue cadre has never been afraid of using force. In late 1995 he sent armed men in tanks to arrest Prince Sirivudh, King Sihanouk's half-brother, after hearing a rumour that the then secretary-general of Funcinpec had whispered that it may be easier to hire thugs to kill Hun Sen than put up with him.

No one ever believed the CPP-Funcinpec coalition would last. Four years after the UN-sponsored election that was supposed to end bloodshed, Hun Sen launched a bloody coup against Ranariddh.

The prince's men were forced to flee as his military faction, led by General Nek Bunchhay, retreated to the border while Khmer Rouge cadre in Anlong Veng came to their aid.

In early 2001, Thaksin came to power in Thailand at a time Cambodia was trying to pick itself up after decades of war and look for ways to benefit from being part of Asean. But all this time, Hun Sen never forgot the people who helped his step to power in Phnom Penh - namely, Vietnam.

When Funcinpec was still around - in or out of power - Vietnam, because of its historical support for CPP, was always at the butt of Ranariddh's jokes and sarcasm. Thailand's escaping the talkative prince's verbal assault partly because Funcinpec heads tended to take refuge at Soi Suan Phlu whenever there was trouble in Phnom Penh.

Today, Thailand is effectively the butt of Hun Sen's sarcasm.

In 2003 Hun Sen gave legitimacy to an unconfirmed remark by a Thai celebrity about Angkor Wat and the end result was the torching of the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh and the looting of Thai businesses.

But the strongman managed to come out of this ahead. Hun Sen used the riot as a pretext to remove then Phnom Penh governor Chea Sophara from his post and install a CPP man from his faction.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia took a nosedive but for a businessman like Thaksin, money could heal all wounds. Thaksin's investments in the country were taken care of, and it was eventually the same for other Thai-owned businesses. Things were back in sync until the border dispute over Preah Vihear.

The recent pronouncement by Hun Sen that the fugitive Thaksin was welcome to reside in Cambodia not only adds salt to the Thailand's wounds but has brought bilateral ties to a new low. And of all people, it was a veteran Thai politician, a man known for his lack of trustworthiness, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who handed Hun Sen the ammunition.

Rumor Mills: Prince Chakrapong fought with Arunrasmy in front of King-Father at the palace

From left to right: Princess Arunrasmy, King-Father, and Prince Chakrapong

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
By Savery Sralanh Khmer newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Prince Norodom Chakrapong and Princess Norodom Arunrasmy allegedly fought each other hard in front of King-Father at the royal palace. This fight allegedly took place a few days before King-Father’s birthday, and it made King-Father very angry and he cancelled the plan for a banquet to be held for royal family members during his birthday.

A source close to the royal palace cabinet indicated that on 29 October, Prince Arunrasmy and Prince Chakrapong, both children of King-Father from different mothers, visited King-Father at the royal palace before the celebration of King-Father’s 85th to 86th birthday. The source indicated that King-Father planned to organize a reception of the royal family members, in particular with his children, on 31 October 2007.

However, an official from the royal palace told Sralanh Khmer (SK) yesterday that Prince Chakrapong allegedly scolded Princess Arunrasmy who accepted the Funcinpec premiership candidacy, and then the fight ensued. The source indicated that King-Father was angry at both of his children on the day before his birthday. His children should have brought him good news, and they should not fight each other at the palace during this occasion. King-Father allegedly kicked out both of his children during that occasion.

A member of the royal family who was not present during the fight between Princess Arunrasmy and Prince Chakrapong, expressed his view to SK that it could be that Prince Chakrapong was angry that his sister accepted the Fucinpec premiership candidate, because this position was set up by Lu Lay Sreng, F’pec vice-president No. 1, and Nhiek Bun Chhay, F’pec secretary-general. The same royal family member indicated also that Nhiek Bun Chhay and Lu Lay Sreng are leading Funcinpec by turning it into a satellite party of Hun Sen, therefore the pair nominated Princess Arunrasmy to the premiership candidate while knowing beforehand that she will lose, and doesn’t this make her a puppet of a puppet?

The same royal family member added that if Prince Chakrapong criticized Princess Arunrasmy as a puppet of Hun Sen from the CPP party, this situation is no different from when Prince Chakrapong himself led a group of Funcinpec soldiers to surrender to the CPP before the 1993 UNTAC election, and then the prince led a secession troop in the region east of the Mekong River to oppose the election victory of the Funcinpec party during that time.

Another royal family member indicated that, lately, overseas Cambodians asked King-Father Norodom Sihanouk to clarify in front of the KR Tribunal. This request was met with King-Father’s displeasure, and the majority of King-Father’s followers also vent their anger against the person who made the request. Therefore, during King-Father’s birthday celebration, royal family members should bring in good news to King-Father in order to please him, they should not fight in front of him and made him cancel the planned banquet.

The source close to the royal palace cabinet indicated that the fight started with the criticisms leveled by Prince Chakrapong against Princess Arunrasmy who earlier accepted to become F’pec premiership candidate.

Last week, Prince Thomico criticized Nhiek Bun Chhay and Lu Lay Sreng, calling them traitors to the monarchy and to Sihanoukism. The prince also accused Princess Arunrasmy for accepting the premiership candidacy which was an idea brought forth by Nhiek Bun Chhay and Lu Lay Sreng, rather than an idea proposed by F’pec party members from all overt the country during the party congress, held on 18 October 2007.

Prince Thomico added that Princess Arunrasmy’s acceptance led to the fight between her and Prince Ranariddh, both of whom are King-Father’s children.

Lu Lay Sreng told a local radio station, on Saturday, that Prince Thomico should resign from F’pec so that he wouldn’t lose face, because ultimately, he will be kicked out the party anyway, therefore the prince should immediately resign from F’pec. However, Prince Thomico said that he will not resign from F’pec, and he believes that the party leadership will not kick him out just because he simply expressed his opinion.

Nhiek Bun Chhay declared to the same local radio station that Prince Thomico is a wandering politician, and by habit, he usually criticizes the party’s internal affairs and the royal family members. Nhiek Bun Chhay said that during the struggle (against the invading Vietnamese troops) along the border, when he visited the troops, Prince Thomico only criticized and attacked Prince Ranariddh, the Funcinpec army commander-in-chief.

However, Prince Thomico used to tell SK that he joined F’pec at the border even before Prince Ranariddh did, however, he resigned because he didn’t want to fight with Prince Ranariddh.

Lately, royal family members are fighting each others like copiously, and their disputes make the public very fed up. Some royal family members not only fought for power, they also fought each others in front of King-Father, just like what Prince Chakapong and Princess Arunrasmy allegedly did.

Funcinpec invites Ranariddh to take over the party presidency

03-09-2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The Funcinpec is reiterating its invitations to Prince Norodom Ranariddh to take back the party leadership.

Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, affirmed on Monday 03 September that Prince Norodom Ranariddh was invited to take back the party leadership. However, the prince does not seem willing to come back. Even though the Funcinpec door is open to him, he will have to accept new conditions.

Nhiek Bun Chhay explained that two main points set the condition for the return of the prince. First, he must accept the election of the party president once every five years. Second, the party permanent committee consisting of 13 members will make the decision for the party. “However, the prince does not want this. He proposed the same Funcinpec structure which existed prior to last 18 October, i.e., the president is historical, and he possesses a special decision right. How can we proceed in this manner and still call ourselves democrats? I don’t know what else to do,” Nhiek Bun Chhay said with exasperation, before indicating that Keo Puth Rasmey, the current party president had accepted to become a vice-president, should the prince return.

The prince’s position is clear. In his communiqué, he affirmed that the Funcinpec leadership took advantage of his return, and he indicated that he would not return back to Funcinpec, whatever the conditions will be. “I want to precise that I, Norodom Ranariddh, will never return back to lead the Funcinpec which was born out of the illegal congress of last 18 October, organized by Nhiek Bun Chhay,” the prince wrote in his communiqué made public on 27 August. For Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, the Funcinpec is insisting with the prince because his presence is necessary to attract the voters. That was what the results of the last commune elections proved.

Discord still reigns among the two parties, Funcinpec and NRP, which are turning into brother-enemies. The movement of the dissidents and defectors had been published by the news media. Besides two former members of the NRP permanent committee, Ok Socheat and Serey Kosal, who declared that they were returning to Funcinpec, Prince Chakrapong is now at the service of King-Father. “I now serve King-Father, I am not making any comment,” the prince, a former NRP vice-president, claimed. Kim Vien, a former member of the NRP permanent committee who recently announced his departure from NRP, is currently negotiating with Funcinpec leadership about his position before deciding to join this party. Even though, Nov Sovathero said that he ignored the negotiation, Kim Vien said that he submitted 4 conditions to the Funcinpec. “I will rejoin the Funcinpec if the party leadership accepts in principle my 4 conditions, such as the independence in the government partnership. I am speaking in my name only. I don’t know what the other dissidents will do,” Kim Vien noted. He indicated that about a dozen of the permanent committee had left the NRP.

Release of the group belonging to Prince Chakrapong’s son

Friday, June 15, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A group of people belonging to Prince Chakrapong’s son, who was jailed by the Phnom Penh municipal court for two weeks and who was charged for illegal possession of weapons, has been released after their parents wrote legal vouching letters for them. The Kampuchea Thmei newspaper said that the court issued an order for the release on 13 June, and the actual release took place on 14 June. The group of 9 hoodlums ordered jailed, included Prince Charuchak, the son of Prince Norodom Chakrapong. The court subsequently released 2 youngsters, another youngster was ordered questioned by the criminal police of the Ministry of Interior for involvement with another gang arrested by the Dangkao district police. The remaining 6 youngsters have been ordered released by the current court order.

Charges against Prince Chakrapong’s son is a political affair: Lawyer

Friday, June 8, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The lawyer of Prince Norodom Charuchak said that the detention of the prince and the charge against him for illegal possession of weapon is a political issue aimed at the prince’s father, Prince Norodom Chakrapong. Lawyer Muong Akrun told The Cambodia Daily that his defendant believes that his detention is politically related. Muong Akrun quoted Prince Charuchak who told him in the Prey Sar jail on Tuesday, that they wanted to persecute his father (Prince Chakrapong). Muong Akrun said that his defendant claimed that the sword which the authority said was his, in reality belonged to one of the prince neighbors. Sao Meach, Phnom Penh municipality court Judge, denied that his decision to detain the son of Prince Chakrapong was politically motivated. Prince Thomico said that the detention of Prince Charuchak is not fair when compared to the case of a CPP official’s son who was involved in the shooting of three students in front of the new National Assembly building last week, and who is not charged by the court yet.

Chakrapong resigns from NRP interim presidency

Thursday, June 07, 2007
Kampuchea Thmei newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

According to a high-ranking NRP official, Prince Norodom Chakrapong, NRP interim president, has decided to resign from his party position and he could also leave the political scene altogether.

Regarding this resignation, the NRP official said that it was because the prince was displeased that Chhim Siek Leng was nominated as vice-president of the party, and You Hockry was nominated as party secretary-general, without him being informed beforehand.

The NRP official said the prince was so angered by this issue that he decided to resign from his position, and he does not want to pursue politics anymore. Prince Chakrapong is currently not in the country, he left for Bangkok to take care of his health as prescribed by his Thai doctor.

Prince Sisowath Thomico told Kampuchea Thmei that Prince Chakrapong really wants to resign from his position, but it was not because of any dispute, but rather because of his health condition only. Prince Thomico said that Prince Chakrapong used to say that his health had deteriorated a lot, and he cannot function as party interim president or as party vice-president because he wants to live quietly away from politics. Prince Thomico added that Prince Chakrapong has a chronic disease for several years already, but he never had the opportunity to live quietly because some of the works need his attention.

Prince Thomico added: “What I know is that the reason for Prince Chakrapong to resign from his position is not related to the internal party dispute, but I don’t know what he will do after his resignation. However, Prince Chakraprong used to complain that he wants to leave the political scene completely.”

Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said: “I don’t know about the resignation of Prince Chakrapong from his position as party interim president.” Muth Chantha told Kampuchea Thmei to ask Prince Chakrapong about this issue directly. Kampuchea Thmei attempted to contact the prince by phone, but he could not be reached because he is currently in Bangkok still.

Chhim Siek Leng, the recently nominated NRP vice-president, told Kampuchea Thmei that he did not learn about this resignation yet because he was busy working at the local level and he just arrived in Phnom Penh.

An anonymous NRP official told Kampuchea Thmei that Prince Chakrapong not only resigned from his interim president position, he will also abandon politics altogether because of age and his deteriorating health condition. The same official revealed that Prince Chakrapong wants to stay near the king, and work on humanitarian projects, away form politics. Therefore, the prince desire seems to coincide with those of Prince Sirivudh and Princess Vacheara.

Funcinpec officials said that royal family members are moving towards a formula demanded by the CPP: that is for them to stay out of politics.

Prince Thomico said that royal family members still want to be involved in politics, in order to raise the royalist banner, and to help Cambodia achieve full democracy. As for Prince Ranariddh, Prince Thomico said that for him to be able to return back to Cambodia, there is only one way: through Funcinpec. “I think that if Funcinpec wants to invite Prince Ranariddh back, they should unite and come up with an acceptable unification strategy as its main priority.”

Chakrapong to quit NRP vice-presidency?

Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A local newspaper reported that Prince Norodom Chakrapong, NRP vice-president, will resign from his party position because he is unhappy with the fact that Prince Norodom Ranariddh nominates too many party vice-presidents. Today’s edition of The Doeum Ampil newspaper said that it could not reach Prince Chakrapong to obtain his comment on this issue because the prince is currently in Thailand. Ok Socheat, Prince Ranariddh’s advisor, said that he did not know this issue. Prince Ranariddh recently nominated You Hockry, who was kicked out of Funcinpec, as NRP secretary-general, and he nominated Chhim Siek Leng, the former party secretary-general, as the party vice-president. The prince plans to nominate Prince Thomico to be a party vice-president also. Whether Prince Chakrapong will resign or not, will be known when the prince returns back home.

Prince Chakarapong’s son and his group to be released?

Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper reported that the group of people arrested with the son of Prince Chakrapong, who are currently jailed for illegal possession of weapons, will be released by the court soon, after their parents and legal guardians provided legal letters vouching for them. On 28 May, police of Pram Pi Makara district arrested a group of 9 people, including Prince Norodom Charuchak – the son of Prince Chakrapong – and the police also confiscated 5 illegal samurai swords. On 01 June, the Phnom Penh municipal court charged 7 of the 9 people arrested for illegal weapons possession, and the court decided to temporarily jail them pending an investigation in the case. However, after the legal guardians of these youngsters provided letters vouching for them, the court plans to release them soon. Among those to be release will also include the son of Prince Chakrapong.

Prince among the seven jailed

Prince Charuchak brought to court (Photo: Bun Nak, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Friday, June 01, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Phnom Penh municipal court decided to jail 7 people, including Prince Norodom Charuchak, the son of Prince Norodom Chakrapong, the vice-president of NRP. Two other persons, including one female, were not charged and released by the court. The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper reported that after the court questioning of 9 persons on 31 May afternoon, Hing Bun Chea, the deputy prosecutor, decided to charge 7 of them for illegal use of arms. After the questioning, the investigation judge decided to temporarily jail the 7 youngsters, while waiting for additional investigation. On 28 May, the youngsters were arrested by the Khan Pram Pi Makara police which also confiscated 5 samurai-type swords. The youngsters were picked up from a rented house in Boeng Prolit commune, Pram Pi Makara district, Phnom Penh City.

Prince denies acquaintances with alleged gang members arrested by police

Prince Charachak (seen in black polo shirt) was displayed by the police during a press conference (Photo: Bun Nak, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

On Tuesday, 7 Makara district police put on display a group of youngsters – among whom was a prince – the group is charged with illegal use of weapons (swords), and was arrested on Monday afternoon. In the group of 9 suspects on display, one of them is Prince Norodom Charachak, the son of Prince Norodom Chakrapong, NRP party vice-president. Major Yim Simony, the 7 Makara police inspector said that the police will build a case for the 9 arrested – 8 males and 1 female – and will send them to Phnom Penh municipal court for illegal use of weapons (sword), and for assembly of gang members (Bang Thom and Bang Tauch). Prince Charachak who also works as a bodyguard at the Ministry of Interior, said that he is not involved with the young hoodlums and the swords, because he does not know where they came from when they were arrested by the police while the group was sleeping in a rented home in Boeng Prolit.

Prince Chakrapong’s son arrested by police

Police displays the 5 samurai swords confiscated. The arrested suspects can be seen in the background (Photo: Bun Nak, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prince Norodom Charachak, the son of Prince Norodom Chakrapong, was arrested by the police, along with 8 other suspects when the police raided a rented house. The arrest was conducted on Monday afternoon at a rented house located in Boeng Prolit, Pram Pi Makara district. The police said that among the 9 arrested, was 22-year-old Prince Charachak, also known as Dy Dy, who is the son of Prince Norodom Chakrapong. The police said that the suspects are involved in robberies committed in the past three months, and after escaping police, they would come to hide in this rented house. During the raid, the police confiscated 5 samurai swords. Prince Chakrapong cannot be contacted yet about this arrest. Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, declined to comment on the case as this arrest is a personal matter. Prince Sisowath Thomico said that he did not know about the arrest of Prince Charachak, but he said that this may not be political issue because Dy Dy never involves himself with any political parties, but that Dy Dy likes to make friends with children of high-ranking CPP officials.

Chakrapong Appears in Court for Debt

Reaksmey Heng
VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
23/03/2007

Prince Norodom Chakrapong, son of the former king, appeared in court Friday to face charges he owed the government money following the failure of a local airline company.

The government claimed the prince owed it $1.3 million following the bankruptcy of Royal Phnom Penh Airways, in a suit that came just days after Prince Norodom Ranariddh, another son of the king, received 18 months prison in absentia on charges related to embezzlement.

Prince Chakrapong said he had no intention of fleeing the country, but his debts are no different than those of other airlines, one of which belongs to Prime Minister Hun Sen's relative.

Prince Chakrapong's lawyer said his client didn't personally owe the government money, and his limited liability company was somewhat protected.

Prince Chakrapong returns home

22 March 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prince Norodom Chakrapong, the acting president of NRP, who left to Bangkok last Sunday, is returning back home. Regarding the demand to pay back the debt his airline company owed to the government, the prince told The Cambodia Daily on Wednesday that he will answer the Phnom Penh municipal court this Friday on the $1.36 million debt. Last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen declared that the government will confiscate the prince’s house if the prince does not pay back the debt he owed in full. After Hun Sen’s declaration, the prince left the country at the end of last week for health reason. Prince Chakrapong is not worried about this problem because he has all the necessary documents. The prince said that he shouldn’t have to pay back this debt because his company went bankrupt. The prince stressed that the debt the government is asking him to pay back is a politically issue.

Court summon for Prince Chakrapong regarding $1.3 million government debt

19 March 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prince Chakrapong was summoned by the Phnom Penh municipal court on 23 March to clarify on the lawsuit regarding the $1.3 million debt he owed the government. The prince is currently in Bangkok, Thailand.

A high ranking NRP official said on 17 March that “Prince Chakrapong already knew about this summon and he will return to Cambodia on Monday to clarify the court.” The same source indicated that the prince is currently in Bangkok.

Muth Channtha, NRP spokesman, declined answering questions about this court summon for the prince, instead he asked that all questions should be directed to Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, he added that the court is always doing the bidding of the prime minister. Therefore, if the prime minister already spoke about it then the story is true.

Prince Chakrapong becomes the second target of legal challenge following the sentence of 18-month jail and $150,000 compensation handed to Prince Ranariddh. The review of the $1.3 million debt owed by Prince Chakrapong started after the prince heavily criticized the current government of being deeply involved in the court affairs, and that the government is using the court for its own political purpose.

Prince Chakrapong owed the $1.3 million to the government following the bankruptcy of his airline company. Prince Chakrapong and Muth Channtha said that once a company is bankrupt, according to the law, the government must forgive all the debt owed.

Because the demand for reimbursement to the government has already reached the court, Prince Chakrapong may face political difficulties just like his brother, Prince Ranariddh. If the prince does not have money to pay back to the government, his wealth and properties may be confiscated.

Prime Minister Hun Sen already declared his determination to demand back the $1.3 million debt.

Hun Sen sets a deadline for Chakrapong to pay back gov't debt

15 March 2007
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on 15 March that Prince Norodom Chakrapong will be delinquent if he does not pay back the debt he owed the government.

During the inauguration of the construction site for National Road No. 8 from Kandal province to Prey Veng province, Hun Sen said that he will force Prince Chakrapong to pay back his debt of $1.3 million to the government.

Hun Sen said: “His business is unlike others and he owes money and not wanting to pay back. Now [I] force him to pay back, principal, interest and fines, not one penny will be forgiven. Talking about [this action is being perceived as] a political issue, this is about government money, it’s not Hun Sen’s money and Hun Sen is responsible for it … When he cannot ask for help, he turns all the issues into political issues.”

In response to the demand made by Hun Sen, Prince Chakrapong reacted by saying that this is truly a political issue because among those who owe money to the government are Hun Sen’s own sons and nephews, as well as a number of other local companies. The prince was wondering why Hun Sen is only demanding the payment from him only.

Prince Chakrapong said: “How could this not be a political issue? How about the 7 other companies, why they are not asked to pay back [the debt they owed], why only my company? I have documents, I am not just talking, they are documents from the Ministry of Finance demanding all companies to pay back debt owed to the government.”

Prince Chakrapong said that in this political affair, maybe he could no longer remain silent on a number of other affairs involving the coup d’état for a secession of the country in 1993. “Therefore, in the future, I can no longer hold on the secession and coup d’état affairs any more. I can no longer remain silent because I kept silence for 10 years already … I am asking for my rights according to the constitution, royal family members are just like ordinary citizens like him. He said that royal family members are the same as ordinary citizens, therefore, ordinary citizens are just like royal family members also, if [royal family members] must pay back the debt they owe the government, therefore ordinary citizens including his sons and nephews must also pay back the government [the money they owed] also. I will pursue this [demand], I have no [government] position to worry about.”

In 1993, Prince Chakrapong who was the vice-prime minister of Cambodia was instigating a secession following the UNTAC-organized election in which his [former] party, the CPP, lost to the Funcinpec led by the prince own brother.

Hun Sen orders probe of debt of NRP Acting President

March 15, 2007

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered lawyers to investigate a debt of 1.36 million U.S. dollars owed by the acting president of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), local media said on Thursday.

Ministry of Finance and Economy presented Prince Norodom Chakrapong with the bill in March 2006 for unpaid taxes and fees on his now-defunct Royal Phnom Penh Airways and "he must refund it," government spokesman and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith told the Cambodian Daily. Publish

"Hun Sen has ordered the legal team to look into (his debt)," he said.

Meanwhile, Chakrapong, former chairman of the airline, told reporters that he informed the ministry that he could not be held responsible for the debt as the airline was bankrupt.

"When my company went bankrupt, it was finished," he said, adding that he still owned two airplanes that the government was welcome to take.

The probe over Chakrapong started on Wednesday, one day after the local court sentenced NRP President Prince Norodom Ranariddh in absentia to 18 months in jail with 150,000 U.S. dollars of compensation for the co-ruling Funcinpec Party over fraud.

Tuesday's verdict would prevent Ranariddh, now overseas, from running for public office in Cambodia unless he serves at least two-thirds of his jail term or receives a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni, his half brother.

Ranariddh was ousted as Funcinpec President in October 2006, for neglecting party affairs and being unable to cooperate with Hun Sen. He then turned to establish NRP, whose members are currently joining the commune councils election.

Source: Xinhua

Government demands $1.3 million debt payback from Prince Chakrapong

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The government has decided to review and demand the payback of Prince Chakrapong’s debt amounting to close to $1.3 million. The payback demand was done after the prince severely criticized the current government.

Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information and government spokesman, said on 14 March that there is a request for the government to be lenient on the debt payment by the prince, however, the prince does not understand and instead, he severely criticized the government. Therefore, we are now having people reviewing the legal mean to demand the debt payment of close to $1.3 million which the prince owes the government. However, the prince seek help from the prime minister to make an arrangement [on this debt in the past], and the prime minister agreed to make an arrangement unofficially. Therefore, now legal means are being looked at to demand the debt payment back.

Prince Chakrapong could not be contacted by phone. Muth Channtha, NRP spokesman, said that according to bankruptcy law, when a company goes bankrupt, the government will erase its debt. He said that from what he heard, lawyers are being asked to look into demanding the debt payment, and that this demand coincides with the latest political situation in the country, therefore, he concludes that this is a political issue.

Prince Chakrapong owed the government close to $1.3 million when he was running his airline company. The government asked that he pays back the debt following a press conference the prince held in which he severely attacked the government. In his 12 March interview, the prince accused the government of meddling with the court affairs and the sentence handed down to Prince Ranariddh, a case which he claimed to be a political case. The prince urged the government to concentrate instead on the urgent passage of the anti-corruption law, and pushing for the start of the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

The government decided to ask the prince to pay back his debt right after the Phnom Penh municipal court sentenced Prince Ranariddh to 18-month jail term, and a $150,000 payment as well as the restitution of the Funcinpec party headquarter to the Funcinpec party. Prince Ranariddh considers this sentence as a ploy to prevent him from returning back home to participate in the election campaign.

Ranariddh supporters ask him not to show up in court

08 March 2007
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer Heng Soy

Several hundreds party members and supporters of the Norodom Ranriddh Party (NRP) sent a letter to Prince Ranariddh asking him not to show up for the court hearing scheduled for 13 March at the Phnom Penh municipal court, regarding the lawsuit brought by Funcinpec against the prince on the sale of the Funcinpec’s party headquarters in Chrauy Changvar.

The letter which bears several hundreds of thumbprints, a copy of which RFA received today, asks Prince Ranariddh not to show up at the court hearing because of concerns that the court may arrest the prince and throw him in jail.

The interim NRP president, Prince Norodom Chakrapong, said that he received several of these letters from students, intellectuals, and NRP activists from provinces and cities. Prince Chakrapong said that he himself, supports this letter because he believes that the Cambodian court is not independent and cannot be trusted.

Prince Chakrapong said: “I received letters not only from Kompong Cham province, but also from other provinces as well, and I am still receiving them. NRP party members believe that the court involvement is not to render justice but is a political involvement instead. Therefore, the court case is a legal violation, and Prince Ranariddh must remain outside the country to see how the court decide.”

Shortly before the split of the Funcinpec party, Prince Ranariddh was kicked out from his position as party president. The prince’s former subordinates brought a lawsuit against him with the Phnom Penh municipal court, accusing him of selling the party headquarters and pocketing the more than $3 million sale price for himself.