Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On 21 December, Prince Sisowath Thomico said that he and the Funcinpec party will discuss with the royal government of Cambodia (RGC) in order to guarantee the return of Prince Ranariddh back home, in the event the latter prince agrees to organize a congress for the royalists. Prince Thomico considered the organization of this congress for the royalists as a new strategy for helping resolve the problem faced by Prince Ranariddh who is currently staying overseas.
Prince Thomico told Rasmei Kampuchea that he wrote a letter to Prince Ranariddh on 17 December, inviting him to organize the congress for royalists which will include both NRP and Funcinpec party members, and he will work hard to discuss with the RGC so that Prince Ranariddh could return home. Prince Thomico: “This is a new strategy and Funcinpec does not oppose it either.”
Prince Thomico claimed that, prior to him sending the letter to Prince Ranariddh, he handed it to Keo Puth Reasmei, Funcinpec president, for review, and the latter has no objection to it.
With the aim of pushing Prince Ranariddh to return to unite the royalists, Prince Thomico will travel to Paris, France, on 22 December to visit his son and to lobby Prince Ranaraiddh to organize this national congress.
Even though Prince Thomico had emailed his letter to Prince Ranariddh since 17 December, Prince Thomico said that Prince Ranariddh did not reply back to him yet.
Prince Thomico came up with this new idea after he told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper that even King-Father supports the idea of Prince Ranariddh’s political retirement, and the subsequent reaction he received from Prince Ranariddh on this issue. Prince Thomico added that Prince Ranariddh rejected the idea of returning back to Funcinpec, therefore the organization of the congress for royalists is a new strategy.
Prince Thomico and a senior NRP official both claimed that Prince Ranariddh is currently in France at the same time as Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are all visiting there also. The presence of the three party leaders in France has attracted a lot of attention. However, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, denied by saying that Prince Ranariddh is in Malaysia instead. Keo Remy, the HRP vice-president, said that Kem Sokha is in France to participate in the selection of the HRP party president in Europe, and he does not have any other schedule besides this.
Regarding the organization of the congress for royalists, Muth Chantha said that he already received Prince Thomico’s letter. He added that the action taken by Prince Thomico is nothing more than him following the footstep of Prince Ranariddh, because the latter had issued two calls already to unite the democrats and the royalists, and that Prince Ranariddh does not need to lead the Funcipec party, however, the NRP’s door always remain open to the royalists, the nationalists, and members of the royal family.
However, Muth Chantha warned that: “Prince Thomico should stop using the name of Prince Ranariddh and the NRP, because Prince Ranariddh does not need Prince Thomico. If Prince Thomico still continues to use the name of Prince Ranariddh and the NRP, we will take measures (against him).”
Prince Thomico told Rasmei Kampuchea that he wrote a letter to Prince Ranariddh on 17 December, inviting him to organize the congress for royalists which will include both NRP and Funcinpec party members, and he will work hard to discuss with the RGC so that Prince Ranariddh could return home. Prince Thomico: “This is a new strategy and Funcinpec does not oppose it either.”
Prince Thomico claimed that, prior to him sending the letter to Prince Ranariddh, he handed it to Keo Puth Reasmei, Funcinpec president, for review, and the latter has no objection to it.
With the aim of pushing Prince Ranariddh to return to unite the royalists, Prince Thomico will travel to Paris, France, on 22 December to visit his son and to lobby Prince Ranaraiddh to organize this national congress.
Even though Prince Thomico had emailed his letter to Prince Ranariddh since 17 December, Prince Thomico said that Prince Ranariddh did not reply back to him yet.
Prince Thomico came up with this new idea after he told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper that even King-Father supports the idea of Prince Ranariddh’s political retirement, and the subsequent reaction he received from Prince Ranariddh on this issue. Prince Thomico added that Prince Ranariddh rejected the idea of returning back to Funcinpec, therefore the organization of the congress for royalists is a new strategy.
Prince Thomico and a senior NRP official both claimed that Prince Ranariddh is currently in France at the same time as Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are all visiting there also. The presence of the three party leaders in France has attracted a lot of attention. However, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, denied by saying that Prince Ranariddh is in Malaysia instead. Keo Remy, the HRP vice-president, said that Kem Sokha is in France to participate in the selection of the HRP party president in Europe, and he does not have any other schedule besides this.
Regarding the organization of the congress for royalists, Muth Chantha said that he already received Prince Thomico’s letter. He added that the action taken by Prince Thomico is nothing more than him following the footstep of Prince Ranariddh, because the latter had issued two calls already to unite the democrats and the royalists, and that Prince Ranariddh does not need to lead the Funcipec party, however, the NRP’s door always remain open to the royalists, the nationalists, and members of the royal family.
However, Muth Chantha warned that: “Prince Thomico should stop using the name of Prince Ranariddh and the NRP, because Prince Ranariddh does not need Prince Thomico. If Prince Thomico still continues to use the name of Prince Ranariddh and the NRP, we will take measures (against him).”
