Another prince bites the dust

One more Cambodian prince quits politics

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Prince Norodom Sirivudh has followed suit, right after his nephew Norodom Ranariddh announced to quit politics around a week ago, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Tuesday.

This seems to represent "the end of direct involvement in (Cambodian) politics by members of the royal family," said the paper.

"The retired king (Norodom Sihanouk) has said that he would like royal family members to stop doing politics and let political parties do work in politics and compete in the election," Sirivudhwas quoted as saying.

His sister Norodom Vicheara, former lawmaker of the co-ruling Funcinpec Party, has also decided to leave politics behind to support the retired king, he said.

"I won't do politics, but it doesn't mean that I won't pay attention to big national issues. Simple people also have the right to question the government and the National Assembly about big issues," he said.

"I don't belong to any (political) party and I will serve the country within the framework of being a royal family member: to serve the monarchy and the country with honesty," he added.

Sirivudh belongs to the Funcinpec Party and worked as foreign minister in the government. Ranariddh once worked as premier, and headed Funcinpec in the past few years, but was sacked in 2006.

Funcinpec was established by Sihanouk in 1981 and has remained as an important political force of Cambodia in its royal capacity, the paper said.

Prince Sirivudh confirms his withdrawal from politics

(Photo: Khem Sovannara)

13 Oct 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

Echoing King-Father’s recommendation, Prince Norodom Sirivudh, former Funcinpec secretary-general, announced that he is quitting politics.

During an inter-parliamentary forum titled “Security sector governance in Southeast Asia” organized by the Cambodian NGO CICP (Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace), Prince Sirivudh, the president of this NGO, announced that he is quitting Cambodian politics. “Our King-Father suggested, on several occasions, to members of the royal family not to be involved in politics. My sister, Princess Norodom Vichara (former Funcinpec MP for Phnom Penh) and me, we have decided to follow his advice,” the prince explained. Prince Sirivudh, who is also a senior personal advisor of King Sihamoni, called on other members of the royal family to follow King-Father’s recommendation. According to him, this is a good way to bring forth the value of the royal family.

In a short communiqué distributed on 25 August 2008, King-Father reiterated his wish to see members of the royal family dedicate themselves to social works, and he invited princes and princesses to follow his advice. Prince Sirivudh indicated that he would withdraw from politics, but he did not dismiss the major problems faced by the kingdom. “I will ask the government, not as a politician, what it wants to do with oil income, how it plans on reducing poverty, maintaining the economic growth, or how it will maintain the teaching of the royal language in schools,” the prince said. The prince welcomed the stability of the government which is far better than other countries in the region, as well as the good progress of the general election. “I have confidence in the government for the resolution of border problems with Thailand and other neighboring countries,” the prince concluded.