Government sweep30 July 2008By Pen Bona and Leang Delux Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information and government spokesman, declared during a press conference held in the morning of 30 July in Phnom Penh, that “the CPP will pursue its coalition government with Funcinpec, but with the Funcinpec of Nhiek Bun Chhay…”
“Very soon, the government will sack Keo Puth Rasmey, the current president of the royalist party and vice-prime minister, and Prince Sisowath Sirirath, the current government advisor,” Khieu Kanharith added.
Prince Sisowath announced on Monday, the day after the election, that he joined the SRP, the HRP and the NRP, in a coalition to protest the election results.
When asked by CSH, the prince declared that he did not have any reaction about this news, “as long as he does not receive the confirmation from prime minister Hun Sen.”
In the morning of Wednesday 30 July, a rumor circulated in which Keo Puth Rasmey would have written a letter to the Phnom Penh municipal court asking for the withdrawal of the Funcinpec lawsuit against Prince Norodom Ranariddh who is currently in exile in Malaysia, in order to allow the latter to return back home. Keo Puth Rasmey could not be contacted for confirm or deny this rumor. Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, would be elected in Banteay Meanchey according to the preliminary results by the CPP.
“Very soon, the government will sack Keo Puth Rasmey, the current president of the royalist party and vice-prime minister, and Prince Sisowath Sirirath, the current government advisor,” Khieu Kanharith added.
Prince Sisowath announced on Monday, the day after the election, that he joined the SRP, the HRP and the NRP, in a coalition to protest the election results.
When asked by CSH, the prince declared that he did not have any reaction about this news, “as long as he does not receive the confirmation from prime minister Hun Sen.”
In the morning of Wednesday 30 July, a rumor circulated in which Keo Puth Rasmey would have written a letter to the Phnom Penh municipal court asking for the withdrawal of the Funcinpec lawsuit against Prince Norodom Ranariddh who is currently in exile in Malaysia, in order to allow the latter to return back home. Keo Puth Rasmey could not be contacted for confirm or deny this rumor. Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, would be elected in Banteay Meanchey according to the preliminary results by the CPP.
