F'pec rattled by more defections

Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Forty-one Funcinpec members left the party in December, with 100 more defections expected

CAMBODIA'S beleaguered Royalist party Funcinpec suffered a further blow Tuesday with the announcement that 41 high-ranking members had defected in December alone.

Ok Socheat, a former adviser to Funcinpec President Keo Puth Rasmey who crossed to the Cambodia People's Party on December 12, told the Post Tuesday that defectors had joined the ruling party and that he anticipated around 100 Funcinpec district and provincial officials would jump ship soon.

He expected the new defections would be announced when Prime Minister Hun Sen approves their membership to the CPP.

"We want to show that our country is united and we support Hun Sen, as we believe he is more effective at national development," Ok Socheat said.

Hun Sen on Monday vowed to remain in power for another 29 years and promised to defeat his political opposition.

"I will stand as my party's candidate for prime minister in the next national elections in 2013, and I will be 61 years old," he said Monday at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

"I will hold power until the opposition has no power to poison with criticism, and if they don't come to the CPP, they will move to other places," Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen has been prime minister since 1985 and led the CPP to win 90 of 123 National Assembly seats in July's polls.

Prince Sisowath Sirirath, deputy president of Funcinpec, said the Royalists are a democratic party and that members were free to leave.

"We are not concerned about the departure of those officials because they were unemployed and they have to look for a job in the government," Sirirath said.

40 Top F’pec officials and thousands of other F’pec members defect to the CPP “to keep their gov’t jobs”

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
KI-Media

Ok Socheat, the former advisor of F’pec president Keo Puth Reasmey, said that he had defected to the CPP and was offered a government position equivalent to that of a minister, The Cambodia Daily reported. Ok Socheat’s excuse to defect to the CPP: to ensure unity in the country in view of armed confrontation with Thailand. It should be noted that Hun Sen, CPP party vice-president, declared earlier that he did not want to see any armed confrontation with Thailand. Other top F’pec officials who defected to the CPP: Nou Kassie, former F’pec secretary of state at the ministry of Jusitce, Neav Sithong, former F’pec Justice ministers, and Serei Kosal who claimed that he had finished his mission with Funcinpec. Low level F’pec party members have also defected to the CPP in order “to keep their government jobs at the provincial and district level.” “They want to keep their positions and earn a living,” Ok Socheat was quoted as saying by The Cambodia Daily about these low level F’pec defectors. Lu Laysreng, F’pec party’s No. 1 vice-president said: “The party is weak, people are running away, it’s that simple.” It appears that the F’pec ship is currently taking in much water because not only the fat rats have jumped ship, but the teeny mice are also bailing out.

No move to oust Funcinpec president [-F'pec soon to be a headless party?]

F'pec somewhere along its path to its demise. From L to R: Sisowath Sirirath, Keo Puth Rasmey, Lu Laysreng, Nhiek Bun Chhay (Photo: RFA)

Monday, 15 December 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

FUNCINPEC Secretary General Nhek Bun Chhay denied on Sunday reports of a change in leadership and mass defections in the party, calling them unfounded rumours spread by former loyalists who had joined the ruling Cambodian People's Party for personal gain.

"There is no movement to replace the current party president, Keo Puth Rasmey," he told the Post, saying that only Keo Kosal and his son had defected to the CPP - and not twenty Funcinpec officials, as reported by Khmer-language media. A former Funcinpec resistance commander and long-time critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, Serey Kosal last week announced his defection to the ruling party.

"I am not interested in the words of unprofessional politicians who left the party in order to get a position in the government," said Nhek Bun Chhay, who is also a deputy prime minister.

But Ok Socheat, an adviser to Funcinpec President Keo Puth Rasmey, said that a faction in the party had been pushing to oust his boss "because of the party's poor performance" in the national elections in July, in which the party experienced dramatic losses.

Serey Kosal refused to comment on the number of Funcinpec officials who would join him in defecting but critized his former party for espousing policies that failed to address the concerns of the population.

Political parties reaction regarding the election progress

Sam Rainsy (L), Ranariddh (C) and Kem Sokha (R)

11 May 2008
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A number of political party presidents expressed various reactions regarding the progress of the election for the upcoming 4th legislative mandate, when their competitor is not even present inside Cambodia.

Sam Rainsy, SRP President, said that he wants to see all the competitors having equal opportunity to present themselves to the voters, for example, in the case of Prince Ranariddh, a formula must be found where his lawsuit can be suspended temporarily so that he can compete in the election and so that the election is fair.

Sam Rainsy said: “For the competition to carry a weight, and that it bears importance on the Cambodian political arena, if a competitor is not present in the country, then the election has no value, you can say that it has no meaning as well. However, if the competitor is a minor one, then the situation wouldn’t change that much.”

Kem Sokha, HRP President, said that because the Cambodian court is politically biased, Prince Ranariddh lost his freedom to participate in the election, and this is unfair for the election.

Kem Sokha said: “Therefore, it could affect his freedom to participate in the election, because we can see that the court is not truly independent.”

However, Ok Socheat, an advisor of the Funcinpec party, said that the fairness or lack of fairness toward the prince during the upcoming election depends entirely on the prince himself, i.e. if he returns back to the Funcinpec folds again, then his problem will be solved.

CPP MP Cheam Yeap said that, even without the presence of the prince, the election can still be conducted with transparency. However, if the prince wants to obtain seats at the National Assembly, he should return back home to participate in the election.

Cheam Yeap said: “If the prince is not here, this does not mean that there is no transparency, even if he comes back, the transparency still wouldn’t be 100% either. This depends entirely on each political party only, and I believe that the prince should return back home, like the NEC and the election law stipulated if he must fight to compete to obtain seats at the National Assembly.”

Nevertheless, Tep Nytha, NEC secretary-general, said that the NEC made preparations for the election according to the law and the rules, and the personal presence of a political party president (during the election) has nothing to do with the NEC.

He indicated also that up to 11 May, there were 8 parties which registered to compete in the upcoming 27 July 2008 election.

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.

Ranariddh will not join the Funcinpec funeral procession to the crematorium

Monday 13 August 2007
Kampuchea Thmei
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Speaking by phone from Malaysia, Prince Ranariddh has decided to nominate former comedian Lor Si as his spokesman in charge of replying to Funcinpec Ok Socheat, Serey Kosal, and Nov Sovathero.

Speaking to members of the commune councils, Prince Ranariddh said that he cannot join the Funcinpec funeral procession because this party is about to die. If he were to join the Funcinpec back, it will be a grave injustice for all those who voted for the NRP which received even more votes than Funcinpec during the recent commune election.

Prince Ranariddh said: “Our party is the winning party, how could we join a party that lost the election?” Therefore, the prince now openly declares his position that he cannot join the Funcinpec funeral procession to the crematorium.

Speaking to his constituents by phone, Prince Ranariddh said that Funcinpec is finished. With the nomination of his spokesman, Prince Ranariddh said that his new spokesman is responsible for answering back to 3 people only, and that Muth Chantha, the current NRP spokesman, no longer needs to the reply to the 3, and this task should be taken care of by the former comedian Lor Si.

Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, said that Prince Ranariddh is trying to catch his last breath in order to save his personal interest only. He said that Funcinpec needs no provide further comments regarding Prince Ranariddh’s past anymore, because everybody knows about it already. He said that Funcinpec congress held on 13 October 2006 was not done to bring shame to Prince Ranariddh, but it was merely a reform to change the strategy in order to salvage the Funcinpec banner which was spiraling downward.

Nouv Sovathero added: “We should think about the past events, when Prince Ranariddh was Funcinpec President, did the number of votes (received by Funcinpec) increase or decrase? We do not need to ask someone knowledgeable, all that we have to do is ask young kids who can add two numbers together. The number of seats fell from 58 to 43, and then to 26, what do these numbers say?” Nouv Sovathero added: “Funcinpec is still attached to Prince Ranariddh if he is willing to come back and join Funcinpec. Funcinpec wants to stress also that the prince’s words claiming that Funcinpec is about to die, are mere speculations by an individual who has no conscience at all.”

Serey Kosal said that he welcomes the prince’s decision to nominate former comedian Lor Si as his spokesman. Serey Kosal said that Prince Ranariddh never nominates Lor Si to any position for a long time no, even if the comedian was as party fighter. Therefore, the nomination of Lor Si as the NRP spokesman shows that Lor Si has stronger ability than Muth Chantha.

Serei Kosal added that the viewers should look as Lor Si’s past. Lor Si is a true fighter because Lor Si decided to follow Prince Ranariddh, and this cost him his job as the comedian because several TV stations, and he almost have nothing to eat at all. However, the prince’s nomination of Lor Si as his spokesman, shows that Lor Si now have a job back.

Serei Kosal added: “I told them again and again, it was long ago now, why is Lor Si not nominated as spokesman. I, Kosal, welcome and praise Prince Ranariddh who selected a nominee who is a true fighter. Whether he wants it or not, even if Lor Si is not capable of doing anything, Lor Si can always give a comedy show to entertain the prince and keep him out of his boredom.”

Serai Kosal added: “I pity Lor Si very much, because he lost his jobs, and he cannot show his face on TV stations anymore because he faithfully follows Prince Ranariddh, without ever faltering.”

F'pec: The eagerness to defect the NRP is a sign pushing Ranariddh to join Funcinpec

Friday, August 10, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, said that on 15 August, Funcinpec will organize a ceremony at the party headquarters, located in Kandal province, to welcome NRP members who return back to the Funcinpec fold.

Ok Socheat considers the return of these people as their displeasure to the lack of unity fomented by Muth Chantha and Sao Rany. Ok Socheat said that the people at the grass root levels believe that the unity will allow the royalist movement to survive and become successful in the upcoming 2008 general election. Therefore, these people do not support those who oppose the unity (meaning Muth Chantha and Sao Rany).

Ok Socheat added that he is visiting the grass root bases so that Funcinpec members who defected to the NRP, return back to Funcinpec. He noted that in Kandal province, people have taken down almost all of the NRP signs. “If we travel from Phnom Penh to the cross road at Ponhea Loeu or Ang Snuol district, the view is clear, there is no NRP signs at all.” He claimed that there are numerous NRP signs being taken down in Siem Reap, Kompong Thom, Kampot, and Takeo provinces also.

He said that people are really eager to see the unity, and they want Prince Ranairddh to return back to Funcinpec, and that if there is a delay, it will be a waste of time.

However, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said: “We reviewed and followed the information about the removal of the party signs. We did not see any party sign removed during our trip to Battambang, along National Roads No. 6 and 5a.”

Muth Chantha added that all Cambodian people have the right to choose their political party, and leave one party to join another one, however, they cannot remove the party signs out. He warned that the removal of a party sign is a destruction of a party property, and the destruction of somebody else’s property is considered a criminal act. If the party sign is located within the property of a person, this person should inform the party. Furthermore, he said that some people participate in meetings because they want to receive the gift money promised by Funcinpec only, but that, in reality, they are still faithful to Prince Ranariddh.

Return of the defectors to the once-defected party

Funcinpec Welcomes Three NRP Defectors

Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17 July 2007

Funcinpec officials held a ceremony Tuesday to welcome three defectors from the Norodom Ranariddh Party, but whether the prince himself would come back to Cambodia went unspoken.

The ceremony rang in the defections of Prince Sisowath Thomico, Serei Kosal and Ok Socheat.

Funcinpec First Vice President Lu Laysreng said the ceremony was like the return to an old home, claiming rifts between royalists as a reason Funcinpec showed so poorly in local elections earlier this year.

"We would like to put aside the issue of Prince Ranariddh's return or not return," he said. "We are welcoming our relatives who are re-uniting."

Serei Kosal, former NRP deputy secretary, said his defection was not a betrayal of Prince Ranariddh.

"I have only one direction, and that is for Prince Ranariddh to return to Cambodia, to lead the party, [either] doing politics or not doing politics," he said.

Ok Socheat, a former adviser to the prince, said in order for the royalists not to face oblivion, they would have to reunite.

"In order to avoid the dissolution of the monarchy, there should be a unification," he said.

More musical chair game at Funcinpec and NRP: Ok Socheat and Serei Kosal rejoin Funcinpec

Friday, July 13, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Ok Socheat and Serei Kosal, two high-ranking officials from the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) and close confidants to Prince Ranariddh, issued a joint public declaration on 12 July saying that they have decided to quit the NRP to rejoin Funcinpec back. On 11 July, Ok Socheat told a group of reporters that he wanted to remain independent for a while, however, on 12 July morning, he changed his mind by declaring that he was rejoining Funcinpec. Serei Kosal told the Koh Santepheap newspaper over the phone that, indeed, he decided to return back to Funcinpec because Prince Ranariddh trusts a small circle of party officials and forgot about those who fought along his side in the jungle (during the liberation struggle against the Vietnamese invasion in the 80s) such as him. However, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that Ok Socheat and Serei Kosal are unruly and they both would be kicked out of the party on 12 July, but the pair knew about this in advance so they decided to leave the party. Muth Chantha added that, besides being unruly and not visiting their designated local zones, the pair went on to negotiate with Funcinpec without respecting the party’s rule.

Thomico’s monthly defection: If you can beat them, might as well join them ... so what if they serve Hun Sen?

Thomico defects to Funcinpec

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Information indicated that Prince Thomico, whose party was recently merged with the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) one month ago, has again defected from the NRP to join Funcinpec. The Cambodia Daily quoted Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, who said on Monday that Prince Thomico and Ok Socheat, Prince Ranariddh’s advisor, had joined Funcinpec. Nouv Sovathero said it is a good outcome that Prince Thomico decided to join Funcinpec because this truly shows the loyalty of Funcinpec to the monarchy. Prince Thomico cannot be reached yet to obtain his comments, but Ok Socheat denied that he has joined Funcinpec. Suth Dina, the former secretary-general of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party, said that he is very disappointed and embarrassed by Prince Thomico’s decision.

NRP delegation paying a visit to Prince Ranariddh after he declared that he’s willing to live overseas all his lifelong

Monday, June 25, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A NRP delegation is paying a visit to Prince Ranariddh in Malaysia after the latter declared that he is willing to live overseas all his lifelong rather than being forced to recognize the spirit of the 18 October 2006 event, in exchange for his (safe) return back home.

Prince Thomico told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper on 23 June, that a (NRP) delegation left Cambodia on 22 June to report hot news to the prince.

Among those included in the delegation are: Noranarith Anandayat and Nuth Nin Doeun. Even though Prince Thomico did not reveal about the essence of the visit to the prince, a source from the NRP revealed that the search for a pardon resolution for the prince so that he can return back home is the main topic of discussion of the delegation during its visit to the prince.

The NRP delegation departed to Malaysia at a time when the prince declared from abroad on 23 June that he would live overseas all his lifelong rather than being forced to accept the conditions imposed on him during the 18 October 2006 when he was removed from his position as Funcinpec party president, and he was subsequently nominated by Funcinpec as the party historical leader, thus cutting him off from direct management of the party.

According to this interview, Prince Ranariddh rejected his return to Funcinpec, and he wants a resolution that is acceptable to him. Prince Ranariddh said that another formula can be found for this issue that would avoid him of having to accept the decision made by 18 October (2006 Funcinpec extraordinary congress).

Furthermore, Prince Ranariddh scolded Ok Socheat and Prince Thomico for negotiating with Funcinpec. However, both Ok Socheat and Prince Thomico rejected the claim that they participated in any negotiation with Funcinpec. Prince Thomico said that he did not negotiate with Funcinpec party. However, when meeting his old friends who are in Funcinpec party, Prince Thomico noticed that his Funcinpec friends want to invite Prince Ranariddh to return back to Funcinpec to unite all royalists. Furthermore, Prince Thomico said that he does not want any personal nomination for himself, and that he is organizing the list of his former Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP) members at the national, provincial, and district levels, so that they may be integrated with the NRP. The SJFP list will be handed over to the NRP permanent committee.

Prince Thomico explained that the reason he merged the SJFP with the NRP was because he wanted to see a union of all royalists. His next goal is to unite the NRP and Funcinpec. He said that nationalists in Cambodia cannot be without Prince Ranariddh and that they need Prince Ranariddh to lead them.

Thomico: Prince Ranariddh will not scold negotiators with Funcinpec

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On 17 June, Prince Thomico said that the negotiations with Funcinpec is a path to reach for a resolution for a return of Prince Ranariddh back to Cambodia, and that Prince Ranariddh is aware of the negotiations conducted with Funcinpec.

On 16 June, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that the NRP leadership called for an end to all official and unofficial negotiations with Funcinpec. He also pointed out the possible punishments to be given to Ok Socheat who was accused of negotiating with Funcinpec in order to find a way for Prince Ranariddh to return back to Cambodia.

Nevertheless, even if Muth Chantha raised the opposition to any negotiations with Funcinpec, Prince Thomico said: “Prince Ranariddh not only knew about it, he will not scold (anybody for doing this).”

Prince Thomico claimed that if there is no other resolution, Prince Ranariddh will have to face two choices: either leading his party from outside of Cambodia, or returning back to Cambodia through Funcinpec. Prince Thomico added that in reality, there was indeed an exchange of opinions (between NRP and Funcinpec), and this fact cannot be hidden. Prince Thomico said: “There has to be exchange of opinion if we want to find a resolution for Prince Ranariddh.” He said that if there is no negotiation, there is no resolution possible for Prince Ranariddh.

Nevertheless, Prince Thomico said that Ok Socheat is not part of the group that is negotiating (with Funcinpec) which he mentioned earlier. He explained that Ok Socheat is a former Funcinpec party member, therefore his meetings with his former Funcinpec colleagues cannot be construed as negotiations. The prince refused to name those involved in the negotiations with Funcinpec to look for a pardon for Prince Ranariddh.

Prince Thomico maintains his position of wanting to see a unification of all royalists, or more bluntly put, a merger of all the royalist parties. He said that this unification must include a resolution in Prince Ranariddh’s case. “We cannot talk about unification if we do not find a resolution for Prince Ranariddh,” Thomico said.

In order to reach for a pardon for Prince Ranairddh, Prince Thomico believes that this resolution must pass through Funcinpec.

At a time of internal strife within the NRP in its search for a resolution for Prince Ranariddh, Prince Thomico brushes off the party internal disagreements. He said that it is normal for a political party to have internal disputes, therefore, he does not pay attention to them.

Ok Socheat facing NRP reprimand for negotiating with Funcinpec

Saturday, June 16, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Ok Socheat, the information advisor of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, is reprimanded because he is accused of secretly negotiating with Funcinpec without the knowledge or the consent from Prince Ranariddh and the NRP leadership. This declaration was made by Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, on 15 June.

Muth Chantha told Rasmei Kampuchea on 15 June that Ok Socheat’s talk is opposite to the party line, to the group of (the Prince’s) advisors, and to the NRP steering committee, Muth Chantha said that, on 08 June, NRP secretary-general issued an order to stop all official and unofficial negotiations. However, Ok Socheat continued the negotiation, and it is opposite to the party goal and the party bylaws. Therefore, the group of advisors (to the prince) will soon hold a meeting to review the prescription (of the punishment to this act) as stipulated in the party bylaws.

According to Muth Chantha, Ok Socheat may face party verbal reprimands, membership suspension, or firing from the NRP.

Ok Socheat, the information advisor of Prince Ranariddh, said that he did not conduct the negotiation in secret. He then recited the general goals in the unification of democrats with the Sam Rainsy Party, however, before this can be done, we must have a unification of the royalists first. He added that: “I did not negotiate with anyone at all.”

Ok Socheat added that NRP voters will welcome if there is a unification of all the democrats.

NRP is currently facing with internal strife, and this reflects the opposite trends found within the party in its search for a resolution for Prince Ranariddh so that he can be pardoned. (If a pardon for the Prince can be reached,) he can return back home to become involved in politics again prior to the upcoming 2008 general election. It is known that party elders who use to follow Prince Ranariddh long ago, believe that Funcinpec is the only entry door to reach to a pardon for the prince. Therefore, negotiations between this group of party elders and Funcinpec took place, but now Muth Chantha blames Ok Socheat for negotiating with Funcinpec while the latter denies the charge.

There is also another group of NRP followers who want to see the prince staying far away from Funcinpec, and this group does not want to see any negotiations with Funcinpec. This group rejects the use of Funcinpec as a mean to reach a pardon for the prince. Muth Chantha said that only Prime Minister Hun Sen can resolve this problem.

In the past, Funcinpec openly declared that it is opening its door to receive Prince Ranariddh to return back to Funcinpec to fulfill his position as the party historical leader, a position which he held in the past.