Prince Thomico accuses F’pec of no longer being a Sihanoukist party

Friday, November 02, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On 01 November, Prince Sisowath Thomico severely criticized Funcinpec by considering this party as no longer being a Sihanoukist party anymore, because F’pec selected Princess Norodom Arunrasmy to oppose Prince Norodom Ranariddh, whereas the pair are both King-Father’s children.

Prince Thomico told reporters: “F’pec leadership boasted that they are Sihanoukists, today, I am rejecting their claim.”

Prince Thomico added that F’pec is neither a royalist party, nor a Sihanoukist party. If it were to be royalist, it would have initiated a union policy and a national reconciliation, but instead, it is Samdach Dek Cho Hun Sen who is organizing the national unity, and those who are boasting themselves to be royalists who struggle to bring back the constitutional monarchy for the country, they ended up betraying the monarchy and the monarchic principles instead.

F’pec leadership no longer supports Sihanouk’s standing anymore because F’pec leadership is presenting the candidacy of King-Father’s youngest daughter to oppose Prince Ranariddh, her own brother. Prince Thomico asked: “Where can His Majesty hide his face when one of his children is opposing another one.”

Prince Thomico told reporters that, starting Monday, he will withdraw his confidence from the F’pec leadership which is unable to lead F’pec anymore because it betrays the Sihanoukist principles and the F’pec principles which were laid down by King-Father who founded this party in 1981.

From today on, Prince Thomico said that, each week, he will visit the party grass root levels to explain to the middle and grass root levels of the F’pec party members in provinces, districts and communes, so that all these party members withdraw their confidence from the current F’pec leadership. If there were to be a new path, the only choice would be to tear down the current F’pec leadership structure and organize anew the ability for the middle and grass root level party members who are true royalists, so they can express their own position.

The prince said that each of the current F’pec leaders boasts that they removed Prince Ranariddh in order to establish democracy in the party, but where can democracy be, if Nhiek Bun Chhay and Lu Lay Sreng decide whatever they want. The selection of Prince Arunrasmy as candidate for the premiership was Nhiek Bun Chhay and Lu Lay Sreng’s idea, it was not a decision made by the grass root party members, nor by the middle ranking party members.

The prince warned that both F’pec and NRP will be disintegrated if the two parties are not searching for a solution to unite with each other. The prince said that he places all the blames on Nhiek Bun Chhay, F’pec secretary-general, and on Lu Lay Sreng, F’pec vice-president No. 1, and that the two do not have the ability to lead the royalist movement after they decided to split this movement.

However, Nouv Sovathero, state secretary of the Ministry of Information and F’pec spokesman, said: “We will not be disintegrated like those who want to see us disintegrated. Even if these 3 royals (Thomico, Sirivuth, and Vacheara) are not in F’pec, this party will not be disintegrated. We will still move forward.”

Besides this, Nouv Sovathero claimed that F’pec still faithfully follow the path set by Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk in 1981. He added that F’pec was not formed just yesterday, and that when it was formed, it was formed when leaders and fighters invited King-Father to become the party president.

Nouv Sovathero criticized Prince Thomico, saying that whatever he said, it was done because his thinking is shallow, and that it is merely his personal view. He added that “Prince Thomico cannot see further than the tip of his nose.”

The royalists are united around Norodom Ranarith

31-08-2007
By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

A large portion of the royalist movement wishes to see the reunification of this movement behind Prince Ranariddh.

The royalists from all parties are crying out their intention to regroup themselves around Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Following their defeat at the latest election, it is imperative for them to put an end to their divisions. The rift dated back to the Funcinpec congress which was held in October 2006, and it became more serious after the sentencing of the prince and his voluntary self-exile. The prince’s return still remains uncertain.

“We hope to re-launch the negotiations between Funcinpec and the NRP. The goal is to bring back the prince to the Funcinpec folds, because for all of us, in both camps, we love royalty,” claimed Ok Socheat, the former advisor of Prince Ranariddh who followed him to the NRP for several months, before returning back recently to join Funcinpec again.

However, the situation seems clear to Ranariddh. He will not come back on his decision. He considers himself a victim of a plot fomented within Funcinpec at the last congress. He still insists on this point, as he expressed it in his latest letter dated 27 August. “Whether the prince returns back or not is no problem for Funcinpec, the local NRP leaders in the provinces already start to desert him. And if he does not come back, there will nobody with him anymore,” Ok Socheat said.

A different tune is advanced by Pok Than, NRP secretary general, who is persevering and confirms that he is “staying with Prince Ranariddh, because we are optimistic about the future.” “I think that staying with the Prince is not a danger, however, we are scared (to see) the waves of Funcinpec party members who left to join the CPP rank. Prince Ranariddh is more popular than Funcinpec. We hope that he will come back in time for the crucial 2008 election,” Pok Than added.

Thomico: Union of royalists depends on Prince Ranariddh

25 June 2007
By Khim Sarang
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The delegate-general of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP), a man who played a role in mediating disputes among political parties that call themselves royalist parties, said that the main obstacle to the union of the royalist groups is Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, who fulfilled his role based on his personal consciousness, told RFA yesterday that the union of royalists depend entirely on Prince Ranariddh.

Prince Thomico said: “The only obstacle left is the agreement from Prince Norodom Ranariddh as to whether he will return back to lead the royalist movement and the royalist party again. This is the only point left, beside that there is no disagreement on anything else.”

On Friday, Prince Ranariddh said that he will not return back to Cambodia to lead the royalist group if he is forced to accept the 18 October 2006 event which he considers as a party coup to remove him from his position (as Funcinpec party president).

Prince Ranariddh said: “I am confirming that if they forced me to accept the decision made on 18 October (Funcinpec congress), I cannot accept it, and if I have to live in exile all my lifelong abroad, I will accept it, because it is my goal. I will (let go) of Funcinpec which I see that it will disappear or it will not receive any vote, just like the Ung Huot Party. Furthermore, with my absence (from Cambodia), let there be only Prime Minister Hun Sen and H.E. Sam Rainsy who will reach a stage, so-called: two tigers fighting for a mountain, because I don’t know what else to do when I am forced to accept goals that I cannot accept. However, we can use another new formula as our first step, and we must labor hard to find it (new formula).”

Prince Thomico recalled some of the events which led to the return of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk back to Cambodia after the fall of the Lon Nol regime on 17 April 1975, as well as his return back to Cambodia after 1979. The prince said that if true unification were to be achieved, new development should be examined, and one should not be stopped by an obstacle.

Prince Thomico added: “Sometimes, there is a forward evolution, we must pay attention to the evolution of the situation, of the position, and we must decide on a plan for a new situation. We cannot stand on an obstacle because, currently, Funcinpec does not raise the 18 October 2006 issue again, it does not. When we want a unification, we must find common points that we can discuss on, we cannot put points of dissension on the (negotiation) table. This point would distinguish those who want to see a unification from those who don’t.”

Blame game between NRP and Funcinpec

NRP rejects unification proposal by F’pec

Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

NRP denies that it wants to reconcile with Funcinpec in order to unite with each other. In response, Funcinpec spokesman called this declaration an obstacle for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and it also reveals the difference of viewpoints between the younger group and the older resistance fighters within the NRP.

On 20 May, NRP issued a declaration rejecting the information that NRP and Funcinpec would unite with each other. The NRP declaration called this an evil information, it also stressed that NRP did not form a joint committee to unite NRP and Funcinpec at all. NRP said that whatever Prince Sisowath Thomico said about him holding discussions or negotiations with Funcinpec, NRP considers this action as a private affair of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party only, because Prince Thomico spoke in the name of his political party only.

This NRP declaration was made a few days after Funcinpec turned on the green light for Prince Ranariddh to return and take over the position of (Funcinpec) party historical leader, and also after Prince Thomico talked about a meeting held between Funcinpec and NRP.

Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, told Rasmei Kampuchea on 22 May that this NRP declaration constitutes an obstacle that will prevent Prince Ranariddh from returning home, and that this problem was fomented by Muth Chantha’s group. Nouv Sovathero said that there was indeed a meeting held between elders of the Funcinpec party and NRP elders. The unofficial meeting was held because both party elders wanted to unite all the royalists.

Nouv Sovathero said that even though Funcinpec suffered because of Prince Ranariddh in the past, (current) Funcinpec leaders are still willing to re-admit back Prince Ranariddh and provide him the position of Funcinpec party historical leader, as decided by the 18 October 2006 party congress. Nouv Sovathero said that Funcinpec’s door always remains open to Prince Ranariddh.

Nouv Sovathero’s statement is in total contradiction to the NRP’s declaration. The NRP still does not recognize and will not recognize the 18 October 2006 event, which it still labels it as a coup-de-party, and it cannot accept this unfair change (within the Funcinpec party).

Nouv Sovathero said that NRP’s declaration reveals the difference of viewpoints between the younger NRP group which includes Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, and the group of older resistance fighters in the NRP party. Nouv Sovathero blames Muth Chantha’s group for destroying, for the second time, an attempt to unite nationalists. Nouv Sovathero added that this is a trick used to prevent Prince Ranariddh from returning home to initiate the unification between NRP and Funcinpec.

Keo Puth Rasmei sets conditions for Ranariddh's return

A scene outside the new Funcinpec headquarters. According to Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, this new building had better Feng-Shui than the old one (Photo: Chamnab, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Funcinpec reveals about new unification with Prince Ranariddh

Monday, May 21, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Keo Puth Rasmei, Funcinpec party president, declared that Funcinpec will work to unite and welcome the return of Prince Ranariddh back to Funcinpec. Funcinpec will provide him the position of historical leader as decided by party members on 18 October 2006.

Keo Puth Rasmei made this declaration in the afternoon of 19 may 2007, during the inauguration of the new Funcinpec party headquarters located along Norodom Boulevard, close to Sangkat Tonle Bassac, near Khan Chamcar Mon.

Keo Puth Rasmei indicated that there was unofficial meetings held between Funcinpec and NRP leaders for the unification of royalists, based on reconciliation for the common interest of the Funcinpec, and not for the interest of a particular individual.

Regarding this reconciliation negotiation, Keo Puth Rasmei stressed that the main issues involved in the unification are: (1) the return of Prince Ranariddh back to the Funcinpec folds with prior amnesty from the court (to the prince), and (2) within this unification framework, Prince Ranariddh will be given the position of historical party leader as decided by Funcinpec members on 18 October 2006. Keo Puth Rasmei said that these decisions cannot be changed because they express the will of the Funcinpec party members.

Regarding the return of Prince Ranariddh back to Cambodia for unification with Funcinpec, Keo Puth Rasmei said that Hun Sen told King Sihamoni, during the monthly government report to the king, that the return of Prince Ranariddh depends on the prince himself because it is difficult to ask for a pardon since the prince never received the sentence handed down on him, and he never recognized that he is guilty, therefore, (technically), he is not at fault yet, therefore, how could he be pardoned?

Keo Puth Rasmei added that Hun Sen also discussed with the king about the petition for Prince Ranariddh’s pardon. Hun Sen said that if every time a sentence is handed down, and a petition is sent to ask for pardon comes right afterward, the court system would have no meaning any more, and that there would be no need for the court system at all. There is only one solution possible for Prince Ranariddh to be able to return back to Cambodia: he must bring his case to the appeal court first, before he will have the ability to ask for pardon.

Regarding the opening of the new Funcinpec party headquarters, Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, said this new building has better feng-shui than the old location. He said that Funcinpec has not yet decided whether to buy or to rent this new location, and that the current situation is only temporary. Nevertheless, the party plans to buy this new location in the future.

Khieu Kanharith: Seeking an alliance is like a money bill

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Khieu Kanharith, CPP spokesman, has compared those who seek a political alliance to a 500 riels bill that must be divided among 10 people: each will receive 50 riels, but even after the division, the 500 riels bill still remains a 500 riels bill, and it will not be more than that because each of the partner will only receive 50 riels each from that same 500 riels bill. Khieu Kanharith told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that when it comes to political alliance, there is nothing new, and the CPP has nothing to be concerned about. He added that those people who start looking for political party alliance are still the same ones, and the alliance is not a new story. He said that the most important factor is not the alliance but the people who valued it. Furthermore, he said that the population knows who has accomplished something and who does not. Khieu Kanharith made all these metaphors to describe the potential alliance between the NRP and the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP) of Prince Thomico. The alliance between the two parties will be rechristened as the Royalist Movement.