On King's Return, Heavy Election Duty

King Norodom Sihamoni will preside over a swearing-in ceremony that the opposition has threatened to boycott. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
15 August 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

As King Norodom Sihamoni returned from the Beijing Olympics Friday, he was scheduled for key election functions, but opposition officials said they would ask him to delay a swearing-in ceremony for the formation of the new government.

Opposition leaders are maintaining a boycott of July's election results, claiming widespread fraud undermined free and fair elections.

Their complaints of fraud were dismissed by the National Election Committee, but they have appealed to the Constitutional Council. Ruling party officials say the opposition risks losing its seats if it maintains the boycott.

"The opposition still has a strong stance against the election results and requests a revote, because of many irregularities," Kong Kom, Sam Rainsy Party vice president, said. "If the king invites [new government members] to join the swearing-in ceremony…we will deny. But we request the king to reschedule the swearing-in ceremony on another day, until the National Election Committee, Constitutional Council and the international community recognize the election as free and fair."

A denial of the king's invitation by the opposition would invite "political assassination," Nguon Nhel, Cambodian People's Party senior official, told VOA Khmer Friday.

"If the opposition denies the king's invitation…the opposition looks down on the king and breaks the constitution," Nguon Nhel said. "The presence of the king and the majority win of the CPP will disqualify the opposition boycott."

Lao Monghay, a senior researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission, said the king could face a complication on his return from Beijing.

"The king also has much concern about the boycott," he said. "I don't have hope the king can solve the problem, because the king has limited political experience to administer the state. But the CPP's big win, if it will use its potential power over the king, maybe it will ask the king to take action as stated in the constitution, which will be difficult for the king to deny."

Meanwhile, King Sihamoni will also need to address a request by the Norodom Ranariddh Party to pardon the prince, who remains in exile following sentencing over breach of trust.

"The pardon is not a priority," Lao Monghay said. "But the opening of the new National Assembly is the priority."

Cambodian prince's supporters cling to hope of royal pardon

Aug 8, 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Supporters of self-exiled Prince Norodom Ranariddh said Friday they had not given up hope of a royal pardon over his conviction for breach of trust, which was upheld by his last avenue of appeal, the Supreme Court, last month.

Petitions to his half-brother King Norodom Sihamoni had flooded in from opposition groups and political parties appealing for the king to grant him a pardon, Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Muth Chantha said by telephone.

Chantha's comments followed a speech by Prime Minister Hun Sen widely published in local newspapers Friday in which he reiterated the prince must return and serve two thirds of his 18-month sentence.

'The king has the full right to grant amnesty to the prince for his conviction, and we appeal to the king directly,' Chantha said. 'We do not need to ask the government.'

Ranariddh's former Funcinpec party ousted him as president in October 2006 and then sued him, accusing him of embezzling some 3.6 million US dollars from the sale of the party headquarters that year.

He was convicted and sentenced in absentia the following year by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The highest court in the land upheld the sentence July 30.

Supporters of the prince, including those from the self-named party he subsequently established, claim the charges are politically motivated and he should be allowed home from exile in Malaysia.

However Hun Sen has said he will stand firm, and the prince will have to serve time in one of Cambodia's notoriously stark prisons and will not escape punishment.

The palace has made no comment on the issue.

Should Ranariddh be allowed back if he is stripped of political involvement?

Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh should be Free to Come Home?

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Op-Ed by Jayakhmer

His Majesty the King of Kampuchea should grant a pardon to Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh only with a condition that the Prince agrees not to be involved in politics again. Samdech Krom Preah should retire from politics.

Personally, I do not have any animosity toward Samdech Krom Preah; I am advocating for members of the royal family to stay out of politics because I have too much respect and love for the institution of monarchy, our tradition, and our history. We happen to be next door to a neighbor whose people have a strong tradition of love and respect for their king.

It is a matter of national pride that we get our act together and do the right thing. I truly believe that the current arrangement by which a king reigns but not rules is a perfect balance to have for Khmer society. The king and the Khmer Royal members should stay above the fray of the mud slinging politics that often involved unnecessary roughness.

Allowing Samdech Krom Preah to go back to politics will ruin this perfect balance. The king should be politically neutral. How can Khmer people trust their king if he is perceived to be a rescuer of a member of his family?

Historically some members of the royal family had disgraced the Khmer people judging them by today's standard. By the same token, there were great kings in the past who had done great things for the Khmer people. In fact, those great kings have defined us as Khmer by our connection to the glorious past. Our Khmer identity is uniquely connected to these great world heritages such as Angkor Watt and the Bayon.

Therefore, the institution of Khmer Monarchy should be honored and respected by all Khmer regardless of their political persuasions. Encouraging Samdech Krom Preah to stay out of politics would remove any foreseeable risks that could taint this institution. The only guarantee that Samdech Krom Preah will not be in trouble again is that he should stay out of politics. Otherwise, the institution of monarchy will inevitably be marred. That is the risk the nation should not take.

Since this is an election season, some may argue that Samdech Krom Preah could tip the balance by joining the opposition parties that would bring change to Cambodian politics. That is a flawed argument. Samdech Krom Preah is no longer an asset. Rather he is a political liability. Under Samdech Krom Preah's leadership, FUNCINPEC's seats at the National Assembly have been eroding. NRP, the Prince's latest invention, could not muster much during the recent commune election.

If the opposition parties want to shine as the alternatives to the Cambodian People Party (CPP), they can and should do it without Samdech Krom Preah.

Those who love Cambodia and at the same time want fortune and political appointments by pushing Samdech Krom Preah back into politics should face the reality that the probability of getting any of that will be very slim. Joining other parties is not too late.

The bottom line, Samdech Krom Preah should be free to come home and to work on humanitarian projects.

NRP’s reaction to Hun Sen’s words

Friday 07 March 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A NRP official reacted to Prime Minister Hun Sen who declared on Wednesday that Prince Norodom Ranariddh looks down on the king when the latter refused to help pardon the prince. In an interview given to RFA on Thursday, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, called Hun Sen’s accusation a slander on the prince. Muth Chantha said that the pardon of an individual convict is the king’s right, and that this is not an issue of whether the prime minister asked for it or not. Furthermore, the fact that the PM is saying that a pardon can take place only if the executive branch asks for it, this is a violation of the king’s right because the pardon on an individual differs from the pardon for a group of convicts, and only the latter case requires the request from the prison authority after the convicts have completed 2/3 of the sentence and also have good conduct in jail.

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.

Political Cartoon: A Pardon with 120,000 Thumbprints

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

Hun Sen: No way to pardon Prince Ranariddh

30 May 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia (a station labeled insolent by Hun Sen)
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen confirmed again that there is no way for Prince Ranariddh to be pardoned, even if hundred of thousands of thumbprints asking for the pardon for the prince have been collected recently.

Hun Sen said: “I am saying this today for you to know: your chief will not be free, if you know how to use this type of person, your chief will not be free. Furthermore, he is sentenced on a criminal case, this is not my affair, the plaintiff will agree or will not agree. And, you never accept your sentence, so there is nothing to pardon for. How could you ask for pardon with 120,000 thumbprints, can these thumbprints have the rights to pardon a person? Is it more valuable than [the court] … why not abolish the court altogether?”

During a diploma distribution ceremony at the National Institute of Education, Hun Sen talked angrily about a rumor in which it was said that his audience with the king in mid-May was to ask the king to help him preserve his (PM) position during the next legislative mandate. Hun Sen also advanced that they (CPP? Funcinpec?) will gather million of thumbprints to condemn Prince Ranariddh if the latter is pardoned because of the 120,000 thumbprints.

On this issue, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that there should be some arrangement made, otherwise the problem of Prince Ranariddh will surely affect the 2008 general election.

Sam Rainsy said: “There should be some arrangement so that all party leaders can compete, and can work to serve the country and the nation altogether. Therefore, I hope that there will be a resolution (to this issue) in the near future.”

Kul Panha, Comfrel’s executive director, still insists that the sentence handed down on Prince Ranariddh is a political issue. He added that there should be a push to pardon the prince so he can compete in the upcoming general election, and also to confirm that the election is free and fair.

Kul Panha said: “Not all politicians can avoid the justice system, but some cases only involve internal disputes within a political party, therefore, using the court to decide on such cases is wrong, [it is wrong] to turn the case into a criminal case to prevent the participation in the election competition.”

Prince Ranaridhh, former Funcinpec president, was kicked out of his position last year. Later on, he was sued by Nhiek Bun Chhay who accused him of corruption in the sale of the Funcinpec party headquarters. Out of this lawsuit, the prince was sentenced to 18-month of jail, and the sentence drew criticisms from both the national and international opinions.