Student group stakes claim to Ranariddh's divided party

Prince Norodom Ranariddh shown here in a file photograph. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Friday, 30 January 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

NRP officials condemn students for ‘defaming' retired Prince Norodom Ranariddh as royalist party falls further into disarray.

A CAMBODIAN student group claimed ownership of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) Thursday, urging current leaders to defect and arguing that they have no firm strategy for carrying the party forward.

Sun Sokun Mealea, a member of the Democratic Front of Khmer Students and Intellectuals and a central committee member of the NRP, emphasised the historical links between the royalist party and the Democratic Front, dismissing reports of her defection to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).

"We must remain in order to protect the party that we gave birth to and to preserve our ideals for the nation."

The NRP took its current shape in 2006 when the Khmer Front Party, formed from the Democratic Front, backed Ranariddh and adopted his name for the party.

Her comments follow accusations by the NRP that the student group had defamed former party leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who retired from politics in October and whose connection with the party has been a matter of ongoing contention.

Sun Sokun Mealea said Ranariddh's retirement effectively left ownership of the party in the hands of the Democratic Front.

Kim Sok, a spokesman for the Democratic Front and a member of the NRP, told the Post Wednesday that the student group had lost faith in Ranariddh and the NRP's current leadership.

NRP officials were unavailable for comment Thursday, but the party issued a statement Wednesday condemning the student group and accusing it of defaming Ranariddh.

Sun Sokun Mealea turning 180-degree case: Another NRP member bites the CPP dust

Sokun Mealea greeting Ranariddh at the NRP formation

One of the NRP member nominated to a government position

23 Jan 2009
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Sokun Mealea, the NRP deputy secretary-general, was nominated as a member of the economic, social and cultural council, attached to the Council of ministers.

The nomination to a government position seems quite surprising in view Sokun Mealea’s past political engagement. Currently a member of the NRP, she is joining this new structure – the economic, social and cultural council of the Council of ministers – which was put into place on 23 January to replace the economic, social and cultural council observation committee. While still a student, she was known as being an anti-Vietnamese student member who was opposed to the CPP. However, with the current nomination, she is now close to the ruling party. Sokun Mealea earned a degree in French foreign language, Law from the Royal Administration School.

Reached over the phone, she announced that “she will start her new job next week. I joined the government because I wish to serve the country by bringing in my knowledge. I am still a NRP member. It is not an opposition party, but I keep my distance to criticize the government, in a constructive manner. In this party, we criticize to help the government moves in the right direction.”

Norodom Ranariddh left his NRP president position to Chhim Seak Leng to serve as the supreme advisor to the king. With Sokun Mealea, another important NRP party member abandons all her opposition to the CPP ruling party.

Sun Sokun Mealea's political buyout: From being a critic of Hun Sen to serving Hun Sen’s CPP party

Sun Sokun Mealea nominated to a government position

Thursday, January 22, 2009
Dap-news.com
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Sun Sokun Mealea, a high-ranking official of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), was nominated to a position as a member of the economic, social and cultural observer group with a rank equivalent to that of a secretary of state, following her recent defection to the CPP.

Sun Sokun Mealea was deputy secretary-general of the NRP, but she defected to the CPP, and she was subsequently nominated to her new position through a royal decree dated 12 January 2009.

[KI-Media note: As a student, Sun Sokun Mealea was a strong critic of the Hun Sen regime and the status-quo political establishment, such as Funcinpec.]

Happy 65th birthday, Prince Ranariddh! ... Wait, aren't you past political retirement age already?

NRP celebrates party leader’s birthday bash in Malaysia

Thursday, January 03, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

About 100 high-ranking NRP party officials flew to Malaysia to wish a happy 65th birthday to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, NRP president. Mrs. (Sun) Sokun Mealea, a high-ranking NRP official, told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper that all these high-ranking NRP officials flew to Kuala Lumpur for the prince’s 65th birthday bash on 02 January. Sokun Mealea indicated that, besides wishing a happy birthday to their leader, all these NRP officials could hold a meeting with the prince also. However, Sokun Mealea declined giving any comment on the agenda of the meeting. Prince Ranariddh was born on 02 January 1944.