Royalists to join new opposition alliance

Monday, 20 August 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

A day before the newly formed National Salvation Party’s (NSP) official registration, it got some good news – a handful of Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) members in Kampot province are adding their names to the new political force.

Chea Poch, lawmaker and president of the Sam Rainsy Party in Kampot province, told the Post yesterday that Mao Ratana, president of the NRP’s election staff in Kampot, has decided to join the new political alliance formed in mid-July between the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party.

Poch did not confirm any more specific names, claiming that it would affect their positions in the government. However, he promised to release the information in the middle of next month, and made additional claims, without citing specific officials, that members of other parties are interested in following Ratana’s lead.

NRP loses two important members

Sun Sokun Mealea (circled)
Suth Dina during the last general election (Photo: U.Ch., Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Wednesday 24 June 2009
By P.B.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

Sun Sokun Mealea and Suth Dina, two members of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) sent their resignation to the party leaders.

They denounced the management of the party. In her resignation letter sent to Chhim Seakleng, the interim NRP president, on 22 June, Sun Sokun Mealea, the former NRP deputy secretary-general who was also in charge of the party’s women movement, indicated that her resignation was motivated by her discouragement.

“I dedicated everything, energy, time, money, as well as my former party, the “Khmer Front Party (KFP)” to give birth to the NRP. But, at the end, I found out that I did all this for nothing because the NRP is undermined by a large number of problems. It is a party without vision, without justice, and without solidarity. There are only grudges and jealousy,” she wrote while adding that it is time for her to resign.

Suth Dina raises the same problems as his colleague.

The pair was known to be among the most vindictive anti-government activists. They led several demonstrations to oppose the celebration of 07 January (date of the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia) and the Vietnamese influence in Cambodia. Along with their former party, the KFP, the pair decided to join the NRP to save prince Ranariddh when the latter was evicted from Funcinpec. Since Ranariddh left politics for a position at the Royal Palace, the NRP was plunged into chaos.
-----------
KI-Media note: Sun Sokun Mealea and Suth Dina are currently members of the CPP.

NRP members defect to the CPP

Monday, October 13, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Anger against Prince Norodom Ranariddh led NRP officials to decide to defect to the CPP at a time when this party is losing its leader. Thav Kim Hor, the former NRP deputy secretary-general, told The Phnom Penh Post that he and several other NRP members defected to join the CPP because they lost their confidence on the NRP following the prince’s resignation. Thav Kim Hor said: “I defected because I see that the NRP’s policy is unstable. The departure of the prince from politics does not set a good example from the part of a responsible leader.” He added: “When the prince returned to Cambodia, and he quit politics, he did not think about the NRP members at all. He called on us to embark on his boat, but when the helicopter arrived, he climbed on the helicopter and left us alone in the middle of the ocean.”

NRP defectors threaten to tear down party signs

Thursday, April 10, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, the NRP indicated that party defectors who went to join the CPP threatened to tear down the NRP signs. The NRP issued a statement vigorously condemning the party defectors who threatened to tear down the NRP signs in Banteay Meanchey province. In its statement, the NRP said that the party defectors forced homeowners (in whose home the NRP signs are installed) to accept 50,000 riels ($12.50) in exchange for tearing down each NRP sign. Currently, NRP activists are living in fear for their personal safety and security. Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, indicated that the CPP is buying former NRP party members to go around telling NRP party activists to tear down the NRP signs. Muth Chantha said that, so far, 7 party signs have been torn down already.

Funcinpec welcomes its former defectors with open arms

07-09-2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The fight for influence among the royalist supporters by the two royalist parties gave the opportunity to Funcinpec to show its attraction might during a public reconciliation ceremony.

Funcinpec organized a welcome ceremony in honor of the return of its former comrades, under the presence of Prince Sisowath Sirirath, first party vice-president, and Lu Lay Sreng, the second party vice-president.

These dissidents jumped from the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). A dozen of these repentant defectors were NRP officials from various cities and provinces, and members of the NRP permanent committee and party directors: Kim Vien, Sam Sun Doeun, Bin Heng Pol, etc…

Kim Vien, the representative of the new members during the ceremony, explained the reason of their return to Funcinpec which “undertook a deep reform which pleases us.” He also ridiculed Prince Ranariddh. “Prince Norodom Ranariddh did not apply the principles which we wrote together in Malaysia,” Kim Vien revealed. Malaysia was the location where the NRP founders discussed about the creation of this new party, as well as its political policy.

Lu Lay Sreng, while welcoming the return of his colleagues from “the old House,” called on the NRP members to come along with him “to restart the work within the Funcinpec.”