Hun Sen threatens to send Ranariddh to jail

03 June 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

According to Hun Sen, “pardon is no longer possible for Prince Ranariddh.” The prime minister declared last weekend “that the prince will be handcuffed as soon as he sets feet in Cambodia.”

The controversial which is taking place between the two political leaders is becoming worst in the last few days. For the prince, Hun Sen influences the court decision, and he wants to prevent Ranariddh’s return to Cambodia. Furthermore, the prince believes that he can ask for the royal pardon without asking anybody else. But, according to Hun Sen, this royal favor must go through him first, otherwise, “the prince can only accept the court verdict.”

To believe Hun Sen, there is no smoke without fire: “the prince’s attacks against me are frequent.” Furthermore, the prince’s wife [Ouk Phalla] would have badmouthed Hun Sen in private. Hun Sen indicated that he learnt about this issue through his intelligence services. Hun Sen continued to criticize Norodom Ranariddh: “I want to bet with my (good) eye … When the royalists were united inside the same party, they couldn’t fight me. Now that they are divided … Let me apologize to King-Father, Queen-Mother and the King, but, this time, there will be no indulgence from me anymore. Even if he is elected, he will be arrested before he can benefit from his (parliamentary) immunity,” Hun Sen said in anger.

According to Sok Sam Oeun, the prince’s defense lawyer, if the Supreme court decided to uphold the verdict handed down by the Appeal court, the verdict will become effective immediately. “But it could decide to send the case back to the Appeal court for a revision on the judgment. This will take more time,” Sok Sam Oeun explained, while indicating that his client’s hearing will not take place before the election. “The court is taking its time. They do not want the prince to be present (in the country) during the election,” Sok Sam Oeun said.

Ranariddh irritated by Hun Sen's remark

Cambodian opposition party irritated by PM's remarks

PHNOM PENH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's major opposition Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of using his power to convict party leader and prince Norodom Ranariddh, the English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily reported Tuesday.

The NRP made the accusation in a statement issued on Monday, after the premier vowed on Sunday to implement the prince's prison conviction, which is being appealed at the Supreme Court.

His remarks "show that Hun Sen is using his influence and power to pressure and force the court to convict the prince," said the statement.

"Hun Sen has regarded the prince as an enemy," it said, adding that "Hun Sen is prime minister. He should implement the law. He should not take political revenge."

Hun Sen said here Sunday that Prince Ranariddh will be sent to prison if court makes the final judgment that he is guilty.

"I will (let police) arrest him as soon as he off-boards airplane (from his overseas exile)," he said.

In 2006, Ranariddh was sacked as president of the co-ruling Funcinpec Party, which was established by Sihanouk as the foremost royal political force of the country. He then established NRP by himself.

In 2007, Funcinpec accused him of fraud and the court sentenced him to 18 months in jail in absentia.

The prince, now in exile in Malaysia, has appealed to the Supreme Court against the sentence. Meanwhile, NRP has been approved to participate in the upcoming general election in July, which will establish the kingdom's fourth government.

Ranariddh and Hun Sen once worked as co-premiers to serve the kingdom's first government. During his political career, Ranariddh was also elected as parliamentary leader, or president of the National Assembly, for two times.