Returned Prince to dine with journalists [-Ranariddh's PR with the news media?]

Ranariddh (R) at his arrival in Siem Reap (Photo: Samnang, Koh Santepheap)

Thursday, 02 October 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng The Phnom Penh Post

FOUR days after his return from self-imposed exile, Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) President Prince Norodom Ranariddh has invited Khmer journalists to meet him at the Himawari Hotel Thursday, for what he has termed a "Dinner of Unity".

The Prince has been living in Malaysia since March 2007, when he was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for embezzling funds from the sale of property belonging to his former party, Funcinpec.

He returned to Cambodia Sunday after receiving a royal amnesty at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

A journalistic tradition

Soy Sopheap, publisher of Deum Ampil and a well-known political mediator, said the Prince wished to address the press in the manner that has been tradition between politicians and journalists since the publication of the Kingdom's first newspaper in 1936.

"It is not about buying off journalists," Sopheap said. "It is the culture of Khmer families to show that politicians and journalists should come together to resolve political issues for the interest of the nation."

Soy Sopheap said he had been involved in brokering a deal for Prince Ranariddh to return to Cambodia since August, and that he spent over 14 hours mediating the negotiations between Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen that paved the way for the Prince's return from exile.

Although many expect Prince Ranariddh to withdraw from active politics as a condition of his return to Cambodia, Noranarith Anandayath, an adviser to the prince, told the Post Wednesday that Ranariddh was yet to announce his resignation from politics.

Cambodia's Prince Ranariddh returns home [-Dr. Lao Mong Hay: Like father like son?]

Ranariddh praying at a pagoda in Siem Reap upon his arrival (Photo: Frédéric Amat, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Wednesday, October 01, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh has returned from exile just days after being pardoned by the king over a fraud conviction. His political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen requested the amnesty.

Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Lao Mong Hay, senior researcher Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong.

COCHRANE: Prince Norodom Ranariddh wasted no time getting back to Cambodia, news of a royal pardon emerged Thursday and by Sunday Prince Ranariddh touched down in the temple town of Siem Reap. He had been staying in self-imposed exile in Malaysia, with his second wife and their young son, after being convicted in absentia last year of embezzling $3.6 million in a land deal. After his arrival back, Ranariddh told media he was grateful to his half-brother King Norodom Sihamoni and to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who requested the royal pardon. Ranariddh also said his political party - the Norodom Ranariddh Party would no longer be oppose the ruling Cambodian People's Party, saying they only wanted to serve the nation. However, Lao Mong Hay, a senior researcher at the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong, says Prince Ranariddh's return was made possible by him accepting the results of a national election in August. The poll was criticised by observers for irregularities and initially three opposition parties - including the Norodom Ranariddh Party rejected the outcome. Lao Mong Hay says a deal was done between Ranariddh and Hun Sen.

HAY: Ranariddh had changed his mind about the results of the election and abandoned the early sort of coalition with the other parties to denounce the results of the election. This is the price he paid to get Hun Sen to support a pardon for him.

COCHRANE: Neither Prince Ranariddh or the Cambodian government spokesperson could not be contacted to respond to the claims. But it's not the first time Ranariddh has fallen out with Hun Sen. Ranariddh won Cambodia's first election in 1993 but was ousted by Hun Sen in a coup four years later. More recently, Ranariddh was charged under a new monogomy law, which critics say was introduced specifically to target the prince, who has lived openly with his second wife, classical dancer Ouk Palla. Lao Mong Hay says Ranariddh has received special treatment, and says the royal demonstrates a tradition of impunity for the rich and powerful.

HAY: The deal struck between Hun Sen and Ranariddh undermined the rule of law, if any rule of law exists in Cambodia, in the sense that power prevailed over the rule of law.

COCHRANE: Ranariddh said he would give a full press conference later this week, but did indicate he might try to continue his political career. Lao Mong Hay says that although he is still seen as a representative of the much-loved monarchy by some sections of the public, Ranariddh's reputation may be sullied by the perception he is a playboy prince without any deep political convictions.

HAY: But I think to many he has been very much discredited by his mercurial style, a changing prince like his father in the past.

COCHRANE: While observers say Ranariddh's return wont significantly alter the political situation in Cambodia, there has been at least one change in his absence. His daughter, Princess Rattana Devi, has turned his villa in the capital of Phnom Penh into an upmarket French restaurant, so the prince is staying with his family in another residence in the north west town of Siem Reap.

Ranariddh returns, vows loyality to govt [-The Opportunist?]

Prince Norodom Ranariddh meets supporters after touching down at Siem Reap airport on Sunday after more than a year in self-imposed exile in Malaysia. He told reporters that he is ready to serve the nation. (Photo: HENG CHIVOAN)

Monday, 29 September 2008
Written by Post Staff
The Phnom Penh Post

Prince Ranariddh has returned from 18 months of self-imposed exile in Malaysia, dodging his 2007 prison sentence for fraud

AFTER 18 months in self-imposed exile, Norodom Ranariddh set foot on Cambodian soil Sunday, just days after a royal amnesty from King Norodom Sihamoni overturned the Prince's fraud conviction.

The Prince touched down at Siem Reap airport Sunday morning accompanied by his female companion Ouk Phalla, his son Norodom Sotheariddh and a group of close advisers.

"I'm happy to return to my homeland after 18 months of exile," the Prince told the Post at his royal residence in Siem Reap. "I wish to express my deep thanks to the King and Prime Minister Hun Sen for allowing my return."

Prince Ranariddh has been living in Malaysia since March 2007, when he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for embezzling funds from the sale of property belonging to his former party, Funcinpec. The King issued a royal amnesty for the Prince on Thursday on the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen, formerly Ranariddh's main political rival.

Despite past tensions between the two politicians, Prince Ranariddh struck a conciliatory note on Sunday, pledging his party's support for Hun Sen's new government. "I have served my nation for almost 25 years. But after the July election, the Norodom Ranariddh Party [NRP] is not an opposition party like other parties, and we are ready, on any occasion, to serve our nation," he said.

NRP spokesman Suth Dina told the Post that Prince Ranariddh spoke with Prime Minister Hun Sen on the telephone shortly after his arrival in Siem Reap and that they exchanged words of reconciliation. "They told each other that they were like brothers," he said.

Suth Dina added that while Ranariddh was not retiring from political life altogether, he had no immediate plans for a political comeback. "Upon his return, he wishes only to spend time with his family, friends and colleagues and participate in the P'Chum Ben festival. He has no immediate political agenda," he said, adding that the Prince plans to formally address the Cambodian press on October 2.

Cambodian People's Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Sunday that the Prince's return was a symbol of national reconciliation.

"When Prince Ranariddh arrives back and asks the CPP leaders to meet, the Prince will be welcomed. The CPP doesn't care about Ranariddh's politics, whether he continues to be involved in politics or not," he said.

Ranariddh Vil Vei - Ranariddh returns - A Poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea

Click on the poem to zoom in

Poem by Sam Vichea (on the web at http://kamnapkumnou.blogspot.com)

Still the same old rascal

The prince's faithfuls kneel in front of him (All photos: Frédéric Amat, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Uk Phalla, the prince's mistress, and their son helped out of the car by bodyguards
The prince is greeted by wellwishers and a young boy (Left), meanwhile the prince's son (Right) has a hard time seeing them.
The prince and his mistress offering a prayer at a pagoda
The prince presents a gift to monk after the prayer ceremony

Ranariddh returned to Siem Reap not because his daughter turned his former villa in the capital into a swank French restaurant

Cambodian politician-prince returns home from exile

Sun, 28 Sep 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh returned home Sunday from a self-imposed exile three days after a royal pardon was granted by his half-brother, King Norodom Sihamoni. Ranariddh was convicted last year of embezzling 3.6 million dollars from his former political party, the royalist Funcinpec, through a private sale of the party headquarters.

His Funcinpec won the country's first democratic elections after 30 years of civil war in 1993, but was forced into a coalition with Prime Minister Hun Sen and ultimately ousted in what the government calls "factional fighting" in 1997.

He fled to Malaysia to avoid an 18-month prison term on the embezzlement charges which he claims were politically motivated.

He faced additional charges under Cambodia's new bigamy laws, which punish marital infidelity with jail. The prince openly lives with his mistress, a former classical dancer, and their son.

He set up a new party, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which won two seats in the July 27 parliamentary election, and told reporters Sunday he was ready to serve again, government permitting.

Ranariddh said little on his return to the sacred city, 300 kilometres north of the capital, with his second family, but thanked King Sihamoni and Hun Sen.

Party officials said last week that his return to Siem Reap is to honour Cambodia's festival of ancestors which is currently underway, and not because his daughter Princess Rattana Devi has turned his former villa in the capital into a swank French restaurant.

Pardoned Cambodian prince returns from exile [-He'll be happy to serve Hun Sen if the latter needs him]

Sunday, September 28, 2008

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Prince Norodom Ranariddh arrived back home in Cambodia on Sunday, ending his self-imposed exile after receiving a royal pardon for his fraud conviction.

Ranariddh, who had been living in Malaysia, was pardoned by his half-brother King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday after being sentenced in absentia last year to 18 months in jail for a 3.6 million dollar illegal property scheme.

The court ruled he improperly sold his former political party headquarters and used proceeds from the sale to purchase another property in his own name, but he was pardoned last week upon the order of premier Hun Sen hours after the prime minister was re-elected for another five-year-term.

The smiling prince arrived at his residence in northwestern tourist hub Siem Reap on Sunday and made a speech showing "his deep gratitude to King Norodom Sihamoni for the royal pardon and Prime Minister Hun Sen for finding a solution to help him return to the country," said the prince's spokesman Suth Dina.

"The prince also said that he had served the country with former King Norodom Sihanouk for nearly 25 years but was still happy to further serve the country and his people if the (new) government needs him," Suth Dina added.

Ranariddh faced jail once before in 1998 but was spared by a royal pardon from his father, former king Norodom Sihanouk.

He had been sentenced to 35 years in prison for allegedly plotting a coup with the Khmer Rouge a year earlier while he was co-prime minister with Hun Sen.

He's baaaaaaack!!!

Cambodian prince returns from exile

Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh ended 18 months in exile Sunday after his brother the king pardoned him for an embezzlement conviction.

In July, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that found the prince guilty of breach of trust and sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in prison.

The prince returned home from Malaysia following the royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday.

A lawsuit was filed by his former supporters in the royalist Funcinpec party which Ranariddh led before being ousted from the party in October 2006. The Funcinpec party sued the prince for allegedly embezzling US$3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters in August that year.

The prince formed a new political party, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which won two parliamentary seats in July general elections without him being present.

Over 100 supporters met the prince at the airport in Siem Reap province, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples, where he arrived from Malaysia, said party spokesman Suth Dina.

The spokesman said the prince planned to keep a low profile as he contemplates his next political activities.

Ranariddh and Sihamoni are sons of former King Norodom Sihanouk.