Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Happy Birthday, The King

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

Arrest the fake son of a gun: Sihanouk

Translated from French by Alain de Veng

Declaration from
Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia

Beijing, P.R. of China, 06 February 2010

Prince Norodom Naradipo [aka] “Nga” and Prince Norodom Khemanourak [aka] “Kahor”, my sons, died and were killed by the Khmer Rouge.

The fake Naradipo and Khemaourak who, currently, cheat our people are only charlatan.

I ask our beloved people not to let themselves be cheated by these charlatans, and I ask our respected authorities (Government, Justice, Police, Governors, Administrators, etc…) to no longer tolerate such an impudent charlatanism.

Thank you infinitely,

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

Man using the name of the ex-king’s son sent to court this morning

The man who claimed to be Prince Naradipo, the son of ex-king Norodom Sihanouk. Some are wondering why someone want to be linked to the royal family because, right now, the royal family is worthless (Photo: DAP news)

Monday 01 March 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

An old man who uses the name of Prince Naradipo, the son of ex-king Norodom Sihanouk, will be sent to court this Monday.

Tep Vanna, the military police commander for Kampot province, said that the 66-year-old man who claimed that he is Norodom Nardipo, the deceased son of Sihanouk, will be sent to the Kampot provincial court today to face his charges.

The man was arrested on Saturday at his home in Boeung Nimol commune, Chhouk district, so that he can be questioned after an order was personally issued by Hun Xen last Wednesday to arrest the fake prince. The real prince is known to be killed in 1976.

Tep Vanna said: “Right now, we are questioning him and he still declared that he is Prince Norodom Naradipo.” Tep Vanna said that the arrested man can speak both English and French, however, he does not know how to use royal vocabulary that much and he could also be crazy.

The name of Sihanouk’s lineage had been used for faking and for attracting support, however, the royal palace also denied these cases.

On Wednesday, Hun Xen declared during a speech held at the Phnom Penh Royal University that: “Our officials, please arrest or send to jail the fake prince, just like what King-Father requested us to do.”

Regarding this affair, some Cambodians said that there is no value for someone to want to link himself to the royal family because, right now, the royal family is worthless.

Political Cartoon: Water Festival 2007

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

The Rise and fall of Prince Sisowath Thomico

Wed, 26 Sep 2007
Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
Posted online

When Prince Sisowath Thomico proposed to shut down the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on September 18, 2007, it was clear that politics is way out of his league. A more seasoned politician would have considered the impacts of the trial for both the Cambodian people and the international community.

The tribunal, if conduct appropriately, serves symbolically as a closure for millions whose lives impacted by the Khmer Rouge and also serves as retribution for future Cambodian leaders. It is a reminder that whatever course of actions a leader chooses to take, he or she must be prepared to answer or defend them in the court of law.

The international community has spent millions, times, and efforts working with the government to bring the tribunal its current status. The tribunal cannot be shut down on a whim. Besides, the tribunal must be free from the government intervention for it to have any credibility.

Prince Sisowath Thomico first came to the national scene when the prince was charged with defamation in October of 2005.

The prince does not seem to have sure footing in politics. In the span of two years, the 55-year-old prince has been on a political rollercoaster. Attempting to follow the footstep of the former monarch, the prince launched a new political party, Sangkum Jati Niyum Front Party with the aim to unite all royalists in August of 2006.

The prince said, "I trend to merge all royalists political parties in the kingdom for reaching success in the 2008 general election"

He dissolved his party to join the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) in June of 2007, and left NRP to join FUNCINPEC in July of 2007.

Yesterday, after a fail advocacy to shut down the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, the prince resigned from a post as senior advisor to FUNCINPEC.

In a broader picture, the prince's intention is noble. From all the political maneuverings, the prince attempts to revise the losing cause that is known as monarchism. Cambodia has changed forever ever since it experienced republicanism from 1970-1975.

As democracy continues to take roots deeper and deeper into the Khmer's psyche the further Cambodia will move away from monarchism. The closest to monarchism Cambodia will ever get to will be constitutional monarchy that is already part of the current constitution.

A misstep such as the one caused by Prince Sisowath Thomico and a few other incompetent members of the royal family reminds us that the former king Norodom Sihanouk understands the future role of the royal members in the kingdom when encouraged the princes and princesses to stay out of politics earlier this year.

Royal family members must decide on their own whether to stay out of politics

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

While Prince Thomico revealed about royal family members wanting to stay out of politics, a high-ranking CPP officials said that royal family members do not need to stay out of politics, and members of the royal family should decide by themselves about this issue. Om Yentieng, Hun Sen’s advisor, told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that the CPP will not lead in the demand to have royal family members stay out of politics. He indicated that the CPP will support this idea (of having royal family members staying out of politics) only if the royal family will initiate this idea by itself first. He added that it is normal that when one is involved in politics, one must face criticisms. Similarly, when one get inside the (boxing) ring, one must consider oneself as a sportsman-boxer who will fight anybody without distinction. But when the fight starts, for sure some one (of the two boxers) is bound to get a bleeding nose.

Prince Sirivudh to leave politics as his sister sits out of NRP

Monday, June 04, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Prince Thomico and a number of other politicians in Cambodia said that Prince Sirivudh has decided to abandon politics when his sister, Princess Vacheara, will return to Cambodia sometime in June, after her long political hiatus of several months.

Prince Thomico said on 01 June that Prince Sirivudh told him many times that he (Sirivudh) will abandon politics to serve King Sihamoni instead. Prince Thomico added that: “I understand that Prince Sirivuddh will abandon politics at the end of the mandate. But, I could be mistaken.”

Keo Remy, Phnom Penh SRP MP, told Rasmei Kampuchea on 02 June that Prince Sirivudh told him that he will abandon politics and he does not want to be involved with any political parties. Keo Remy added that the prince may go to work at the UN in his position as the vice-president of human rights issue, or he may remain as the advisor to the king.

Ok Socheat, Prince Ranariddh’s information advisor, said on Saturday that Prince Sirivuddh believes that royal family members should stop being involved in politics. However, he added that one should not trust too much a politician when he says that he will abandon politics. He said that those who were involved in politics, they never abandon it.

Information about Prince Sirivudh’s departure from the political scene appeared when the prince disappeared from the political scene for a long period of time, and also after the distancing of the relationship between himself and Prince Ranariddh. Prince Sirivudh was removed from his position as Funcinpec Secretary-general by Prince Ranariddh, and he was replaced by Nhiek Bun Chhay who still occupies this position up until now.

In another development regarding royal family members, Prince Thomico said that Princess Vacheara will return to Cambodia some time in June after several months of stay in France away from the Cambodian political scene. Princess Vacheara’s name is still on the National Assembly roster, and Prince Thomico said that she is not part of NRP yet.

Prince Thomico declined to comment on Princess Vacheara’s current political standing. He only discussed about her return to Cambodia.

Nevertheless, Prince Thomico believes that there is no rift among royal family members, and he still maintains his relationship with Prince Sirivudh and Princess Vacheara as usual.

Move to ban royals from politics gaining momentum

By Vong Sokheng
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 03, February 9 - 22, 2007

Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and coalition partner Funcinpec are supporting an initiative put forth by retired King Norodom Sihanouk to keep the royal family out of politics.

But politically involved royal family members are saying it's irresponsible for them to leave the political arena when the nation is still corrupt and lacks law enforcement.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, president of Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP), told the Post on February 7 that he will step down as the head of his party if the coalition government can stop the issues of land grabbing, corruption, illegal logging, illegal immigration and the selling off of state assets.

"I decided to become involved in politics because I feel that my nation is in a serious situation," Thomico said. "I want to see the leadership of the country respect the rule of law."

Prince Norodom Chakrapong, deputy president of Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), has charged that illegal immigrants are being registered to vote in the forthcoming commune elections.

"I think that this is dangerous for the nation in the future, when illegal immigrants can vote to install the government," Chakrapong said. "What's wrong with members of the royal family? Let me help my nation!"

The prince blasted the proposed initiative. He claims removing members of the royal family from politics is unconstitutional and aimed only at silencing the political movement of royals who often criticize the government.

"I think that land grabbing, corruption, illegal immigration, illegal logging, and the selling of state assets is widespread within this government, and there have been serious effects to the living conditions of the poor," Chakrapong said. "Why don't they focus on those issues? We want to stay in politics because we love the nation, and we want to resolve all these problems for the Cambodian people."

Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (Comfrel), said that the monarchy once held much political might in Khmer society and served to provide a system of checks and balances.

"I think that an initiative that impacts any political movement will weaken democracy and checks of balances. It will create more corruption, and corruption now is already out of control among the ruling officials who want to strengthen their grip on power," Panha said.

Thomico said that in Cambodian history only the monarchy was able to bring the country independence from France in 1953, and from Vietnam in 1991.

Thomico said that he will leave politics when the country achieves real independence.

But Hun Sen said that it is impossible for members of the Royal family to protect the entire the nation when those cannot protect themselves.

He said that the CPP is the real protector of the Cambodian monarchy.

King-Father: No "Royals" participated in Royal Crusade for Independence of Cambodia in 1952-1953

On February 5, 2007, The Cambodia Daily published article titled: "Sihanouk Says Royals Should Leave Politics" (Click here to read the full article). The article reported the reaction of Prince Thomico to King-Father's call for the Royal family members to leave politics:

"I don’t fight against the CPP," he said. "I fight against the regime which the CPP has built." Royals have achieved important political successes in recent history, such as national independence in 1953, he added."

As a footnote to the prince's reaction, King-Father wrote the following remarks in French and translated into English below:

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

It’s unbelievable!

Sirik Matak and other “Royals” betrayed the National Independence and shot down the Monarchy in 1970.

In 1952-1953, those who followed me during the Royal Crusade for the total Independence of Cambodia were Samdech Penn Nouth, Excellencies (from the [common] People) and men and women from the Small People [Ordinary Citizens].

They were not “Royals”. The like of Thomico should not distort History.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

Nhiek Bun Chhay: "I'm a real royalist supporter," let's retire them from politics

Thursday, February 8, 2007
F'pec Official: Royals Should Quit Politics

By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY

"If royal family party members are prevented from being
Funcinpec members, Funcinpec will not be a royalist party"
- Sisowath Sirirath, F'pec Deputy President

Royals introducing a law to bar themselves from office
would amount to political suicide - Sisowath Santa, F'pec MP

Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay threw his support Wednesday behind Prime Minister Hun Sen's proposal for Cambodia's royals to retire from politics.

Nhiek Bun Chhay said the decision should ultimately be left up to the royals themselves. But by engaging in the country's political life and faring poorly in national elections, royals risk marring the monarchy's reputation, he told reporters following a tourism conference at Chaktomuk Theater.

"We want to protect and provide high value to the royal family members," he explained later by telephone.

"In these current circumstances, royal family members should not be involved in politics," he added.

Funcinpec was headed by Prince Norodom Ranariddh until he was ousted in October, and the party still has several senior royal members. If a law is passed barring royals from politics, Funcinpec will remove its remaining royals, though it will continue to call itself a royalist party, Nhiek Bun Chhay said.

"I’m a real royalist supporter," he maintained.

Muth Channtha, Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman, said Nhiek Bun Chhay's remarks demonstrate that Funcinpec's royal legacy has been completely uprooted.

"The party has lost its ideology," he said.

Hun Sen suggested Monday that the royals should initiate their own retirement, adding that if they formally agree to stay out of politics, a law could be drafted to keep them financially supported after they step down.

Funcinpec Deputy President Prince Sisowath Srirath said that royals should not quit politics, and claimed officials are stoking a high-profile public debate on the topic to try and deflect attention from the faltering Khmer Rouge tribunal.

"We should stop discussing royal family issues because it will delay the Khmer Rouge tribunal," he said.

"We should boost the Khmer Rouge tribunal to provide justice for the people."

He also said it would be illogical for Funcinpec to oust its princes and princesses while continuing to call itself a royalist party.

"If royal family party members are prevented from being Funcinpec members, Funcinpec will not be a royalist party," he said.

Princess Sisowath Santa, a Funcinpec lawmaker, said that she would refuse to accept any pension offered in return for quitting politics.

Royals introducing a law to bar themselves from office would amount to political suicide, she added.

"We cannot introduce any law that would kill us," she said.

Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said that if the ax falls on royals in politics, government officials with palace-bestowed honorary titles such as oknha or samdech should give them up also.

If Funcinpec does purge its remaining royals, supporters attracted to the party's royal legacy will likely look elsewhere, he added.

National Assembly and CPP Honorary President Heng Samrin said that retired King Norodom Sihanouk bestowed samdech titles, and that they therefore should not be dropped.

"Samdech is a title. They are not like royal family members," he said.