Thread: Cambodia : Ranariddh returns to politics

Ranariddh returns to politics
Meas Sokchea
Sunday, 05 December 2010


Prince Norodom Ranariddh talks to reporters in Kampong Cham province after announcing his return to politics as head of Nationalist Party, on Saturday.
Photo by: Heng Chivoan

FORMER prime minister and political heavyweight Prince Norodom Ranariddh has announced his return to political life, raising hopes of a resurrection in the fortunes of the Kingdom’s moribund royalist movement.

Speaking to more than 500 supporters in Kampong Cham province on Saturday, Prince Ranariddh said he would soon return to head the Nationalist Party, which plans to re-adopt its old name, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, at a party congress this week.

“I am preparing myself to lead the Norodom Ranariddh Party,” he said. “Doing politics is the same as being addicted to opium, but what is important is that there have been a lot of petitions inviting me to lead the Norodom Ranariddh Party,” he added.

Ranariddh, who retired from politics in October 2008, hurled criticism at his former Funcinpec party colleagues, accusing them of selling themselves to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party in exchange for government posts and other personal benefits.

He said he had rejected appeals for him to return to the party, which removed him as its president in 2006, and called on all royalist supporters to gather under the NP/NRP umbrella.

“Please members of Funcinpec, come back to me. What is the importance of rotten posts!” he said. “I will not return to Funcinpec, because Funcinpec is just a party serving [the CPP].”

The Prince’s return could throw the ailing royalist movement into further disarray, with plans for a merger between the NP/NRP and Funcinpec now in progress. Since 2006, when Ranariddh was removed from his post as Funcinpec party president in connection with claims he embezzled party funds, the royalist movement has stagnated.

The two royalist parties won only four seats at the 2008 national elections and a merger plan, more than a year in the making, is seen as the key to reviving their fortunes.

Ranariddh said yesterday that he was still committed to the merger, but that Funcinpec’s secretary general, Nhek Bun Chhay, and Keo Puth Reaksmey, its president, no longer had the support of the people.

He also promised to take a centrist approach to politics, pledging not to support or criticise the government on any subject without good reason. As an example, he lashed out at National Assembly President Heng Samrin and his deputy Nguon Nhel, criticising them for stamping out freedom of expression in the parliament.

“When I was president, Sam Rainsy insulted me, and I allowed him to talk freely,” Ranariddh said, referring to the head of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.

Local supporters of Ranariddh hailed the announcement on Saturday, expressing hopes that Ranariddh, who served as “first” prime minister from 1993 until 1997, would again lead the country.

“I came here to invite the Prince to lead the NRP because he has done a lot to build the country,” said Seng Kuo, 62, from Pea Raing district, in nearby Prey Veng province.

Nhem Sophy, a 40-year-old supporter from Kang Meas district, said other parties had “badly treated” the people. “I hope that he will lead well if he is elected,” she said.

phnompenhpost.com

Originally Posted by Mid

FORMER prime minister and political heavyweight Prince Norodom Ranariddh has announced his return to political life, raising hopes of a resurrection in the fortunes of the Kingdom’s moribund royalist movement.

obviously he is looking forward to be killed, he was almost assassinated about 10 years ago by his by the current POS PM

Cambodia is how Thailand would be if the reds had their way,

PM warns political rival
Cheang Sokha
Thursday, 09 December 2010

Prime Minister Hun Sen has lashed out at his royalist opponent Prince Norodom Ranariddh, warning that his recent return to politics could drag the monarchy back into politics.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new university building in Battambang province yesterday, Hun Sen warned Ranariddh – who announced his return to political life this week – against doing politics as a representative of the Royal Palace.

“You can do whatever you want, but there is one thing: If you do politics it will be linked to the monarchy, you have to be clear on this point,” he said in reference to Ranariddh, who is a senior adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni.

“If you want to do politics, you have to quit the Supreme Council as adviser to the King, otherwise the King will lose neutrality on the matter of politics. The name of the King will be used for propaganda, saying I am a brother of the King, I am the son of former King, and it will link the King with politics.”

Last weekend, Ranariddh said he would return to head the Norodom Ranariddh Party more than two years after he walked away from politics.

Speaking to supporters in Kampong Cham, he issued a stinging denunciation of his former colleagues in Funcinpec, the royalist party he led to victory in the 1993 elections, saying its current leadership had sold itself out to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party in exchange for minor government posts.

He also issued a call for Funcinpec members to defect to his camp.

Hun Sen yesterday reiterated earlier warnings that Funcinpec government officials attempting to defect to Ranariddh would be fired from their government posts.

“I would like to say clearly that with Funcinpec, whether they receive less or more [National Assembly] seats, we will still work together because we have worked together for years, and there is no need for others,” Hun Sen said. “Please don’t confuse and do anything disorderly to lie to others.”

Noranarith Anandayath, chief of Prince Ranariddh’s cabinet, declined to comment on Hun Sen’s comments, except to say that there were many other royal advisers involved with politics.

In yesterday’s speech, the premier also criticised opposition leader Sam Rainsy for filing an international complaint against him in connection with the so-called “K5 plan”.

Hun Sen said the plan – devised in 1984-85 as a response to the continuing threat from Khmer Rouge insurgents – would not have been implemented were it not for the United Nations and Western governments supporting resistance factions including the KR.

“At that time, if there was a trial, the UN should be on trial first as it recognised the Khmer Rouge and allowed the Khmer Rouge to sit in the UN,” he said.

Hun Sen did not mention Sam Rainsy by name, but in October, the self-exiled politician announced his plan to file an international complaint accusing Hun Sen of crimes against humanity in connection with the K5 plan.

phnompenhpost.com

Cambodian prince quits politics for second time

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Friday announced that he was quitting politics for a second time after he was perceived as an obstacle to a merger between royalist parties.

The son of beloved former king Norodom Sihanouk agreed in May to combine his eponymous Norodom Ranariddh Party with Funcinpec in a bid to reinvigorate the royalist movement ahead of next year's general elections.

"I would like to announce, from now on, that I stop doing politics and will not take responsibility for any work and decisions made by the Norodom Ranariddh Party any more," Ranariddh said in a statement.

The prince did not provide the motive behind his decision to leave politics but it comes after senior officials from both parties accused him of standing in the way of a smooth merger, in an apparent clash of personalities.

Ranariddh was ejected from Funcinpec in 2006 for alleged fraud involving the illegal sale of the party's headquarters. He formed his own party shortly afterwards.

The prince was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail over the charges the following year and quit politics in late 2008 after receiving a royal pardon.

He returned to the political scene in late 2010, vowing to re-unite the royalists.

The prince's political career began with great promise when, in 1993 as head of Funcinpec, he won Cambodia's UN-sponsored election.

But he was forced to accept a co-prime minister -- the current premier Hun Sen -- who then ousted him in a bloody coup in 1997.

google.com

Good riddance