Supreme irony for the Supreme Advisor to the King: Living under royal public insult from Hun Sen

Hun Sen: Ranariddh has a title, a salary but no power

06 Jan 2009
By Ros Dina
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Prince Ranariddh’s new position as Supreme Advisor to the King – a title equivalent to that of a prime minister – should not be mistaken, Hun Sen declared on Tuesday 06 January during the inauguration of the new Stung Meanchey bridge.

Hun Sen explained that the new title granted to prince gave him a salary but no rights and power of a real prime minister. Hun Sen indicated that the proof to this is the fact that Norodom Ranariddh will not have a spokesman, no car equipped with blaring siren to lead his convoy (he must ask for one to accomplish his missions), nor will he have any personal advisors. This distinction offered to the prince was hammered in a deal between King Sihamoni and Hun Sen, the latter indicated, so that that prince could receive a salary.

Hun Sen also reminded that he is the only prime minister of Cambodia, and that no other Council of ministers can be formed because some people have been lured to pay [bribes] to become spokesman and members of Prince Ranariddh’s cabinet.

This reminder done, Hun Sen returned to the July 1997 armed confrontations between royalist forces led by Ranariddh and government troops led by Hun Sen. He accused the prince of betraying his then-partner in the coalition government, i.e. the CPP, by signing agreements with the “outlawed” KR behind the CPP’s back. A fight for power was put to rest, Hun Sen added while indicating that Ranariddh’s camp was weakened. “Now, there are only national forces and nothing else!” Hun Sen concluded as he is certain that his message is well understood.

Hun Sen to impotent Ranariddh: You only hold a title equivalent to PM, but you have no PM power and rights like Hun Sen!

The role is now reversed?

Title devoid of power for Norodom Ranariddh

6 Jan 2009
By Leang Delux Cambodge Soir Hebdo Translated from French by Tola Ek Click here to read the article in French

Since becoming “Supreme Advisor to the King,” Prince Norodom Ranariddh only holds a low position in the country’s life.
“If you need an official [vehicle] procession for your displacement, you must write [to ask] from the Ministry of Interior which will send you one, [however,] once your mission is accomplished, the procession will return to the garage,” Hun Sen declared to Norodom Ranariddh during the inauguration of the Steung Meanchey bridge in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen also revealed his vision of the new title given to his former co-prime minister who, since he was nominated by a royal decree on 06 December 2008, has been referred to “Supreme Advisor to the King.”

If Ranariddh’s title is equivalent to that of a prime minister, Hun Sen indicated that the title was given to Ranariddh “so that we can pay him a salary, but he doesn’t have the same power and rights as Prime minister Hun Sen.” Hun Sen also advised Ranariddh not to form a council of ministers and not to maintain a spokesman, nor a cabinet.

Thomico: Two choices for Prince Ranariddh to return back home

Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On 04 December 2007, Prince Thomico indicated that there are several national leaders who want to see Prince Norodom Ranariddh stop being involved in politics so that he can return back to Cambodia.

Prince Thomico’s declaration was published in today’s edition of the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper. The prince said that Prince Ranariddh has two choices to return back to Cambodia: (1) he returns through the Funcinpec door, or (2) he quits politics and returns back home as a high-ranking royal family member.

Prince Thomico said that he heard information from a number of national leaders who want to see Prince Ranariddh returning back home as a royal family member, and he would become a supreme advisor to the king. Prince Thomico said that Prince Ranariddh already knew about this issue, but that he did not provide a response yet because he wants to think about it first.

Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, reacted to the choices presented by Prince Thomico, saying that Prince Ranariddh would not occupy such an empty position (as supreme advisor to the king). Muth Chantha said that this position is like a statue position or a symbolic position only. He said that Prince Ranariddh still maintains his political stance.

Regarding the proposal to have Prince Ranariddh returning through the Funcinpec door, Muth Chantha told Rasmei Kampuchea that, regarding the Funcinpec problem, he stopped talking about it long ago. Muth Chantha said that the prince no longer think about the Funcinpec anymore, and whoever wants to force him to return through Funcinpec’s door has bad intention because the Funcinpec already lost its own sovereignty.

However, Prince Thomico believes that Funcinpec remains the only door for Prince Ranariddh to return back home to politics as usual. Prince Thomico said that he will try to meet Prince Ranariddh in Malaysia, but that up to now, Prince Ranariddh did not agree to this meeting. Prince Ranariddh told Prince Thomico: “Not yet, the timing is not there yet.”