The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 532
“A royal family member said that Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen agrees to allow Samdech Krom Preah to return to the country if he agrees to accept the position of president of the royal family members with certain privileges similar to the prime minister. However, Prince Ranariddh has not yet responded officially.
“A source said as president of the royal family members, Prince Ranariddh could have a car with a siren, bodyguards, followers, a big salary, and he could even have many wives, but he could not lead a party.
“The same royal family member added that Mr. Hun Sen provides also another possibility for Samdech Krom Preah to return, which would enable him to return to the country by recognizing the Funcinpec extraordinary congress on 18 October 2006 that had offered him the position of being a historical guide, who would not be involved in the work of the party.
“An unnamed source said that if Samdech Krom Preah agrees to accept the position of president of the royal family members, Prime Minister Hun Sen will agree to allow him to be in charge of charity and social affairs. Mr. Hun Sen’s condition is like to force Samdech Krom Preah to resign from politics too, something that Prince Ranariddh is not likely to accept. Previously he had said that he would even pump out his royal blood so that he could be involved in politics, if there would be a law to prohibit the royal family from participating in politics.
“Speaking to journalists in a press conference at Hotel Le Royal on 13 November 2006, Samdech Krom Preah had stated, ‘If there would be a law to prohibit the royal family from participating in politics today, I will resign immediately [probably: from being a member of the royal family]. However, I am afraid that the Norodom line and the Sisowath line will not resign… when I resign I will lose the “Norodom” name and remain only “Ranariddh”’ He added, ‘If they adopt the law today, my “Norodom” name will be gone tomorrow.’
“Reacting to the opinion that the Khmer royal family should act like the Thai royal family, Samdech Krom Preah said that if the Thai royal family is wanted as an example, the entire system must be introduced and it is not acceptable to pick up some parts only, because nobody insults the Thai King like the Khmers do.
“Relating to the 1985 [Cambodian-Vietnamese border] treaty, Samdech Euv [the Father King] prohibited King Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni from confirming by signing the treaty. At that time, Mr. Hun Sen insulted Samdech Euv and ordered local television stations to broadcast Mr. Sin Sisamut’s song [from the time of the war in Vietnam] saying that King Sihanouk had cut land and had given it to the Viet Cong. Khmer citizens found that the broadcasting of this song was an insult against Samdech Euv.
“A royal family member told Sralanh Khmer in early 2006 that Samdech Krom Preah would pump out his royal blood and put in a [simple] citizen’s blood, if the royal family were prohibited from participating in politics. The source stated that Samdech Krom Preah raised the issue in a party with a number of royal family members at a restaurant near Phsar Thom Thmei.
“At that time Samdech Krom Preah openly announced that he would agree to resign as a member of the royal family to participate in politics, if there would be a law adopted to prohibit the royal family from participating in politics. However, he hoped that there would not be such a law.
“On 17 September 2006, in Kompong Chhnang, Mr. Hun Sen also spoke about a situation not allowing the royal family to participate in politics. A few days later, Mr. Heng Samrin, the National Assembly President and the Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party, appealed to the royal family members that they should stay away from politics, because it would be too late to decide this after they would have lost the elections. The request was also supported by Mr. Sam Rainsy, the president of the opposition party, which caused Samdech Krom Preah to accuse Mr. Sam Rainsy of joining with Mr. Hun Sen in not allowing the royal family to participate in politics.
“A source said that the proposal from Mr. Hun Sen that wants Samdech Krom Preah to resign from politics and to be the president of the royal family members does not mean not to allow any royal family members to participate in politics.
“Samdech Krom Preah, who at present cannot return to the country because of his involvement in a criminal case where he was convicted to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of $150,000 to be paid to Mr. Nhek Bun Chhay, the Funcinpec secretary-general, based on an accusation of forgery when selling the Funcinpec headquarters near the French embassy and near the Chroy Chongva Bridge, does not agree to accept a compromise with Funcinpec – he listened only to the lies of Mr. Sao Rany and Mr. You Hockry, saying that he [Prince Ranariddh] would win this case at the appeals court on 3 October 2007. However, the appeals court maintained the verdict of the Phnom Penh municipal court that the prince has to be imprisoned for 18 months and pay a fine of $150,000 to Mr. Nhek Bun Chhay, making him deadlocked. He finally called for Mr. Sam Rainsy, the president of the Sam Rainsy, and for Mr. Kem Sokha, the president of the Human Rights Party, to join together with the monarchists and with other patriots – an appeal that made him being criticized seriously.
“A royal family member said that before the appeals court held its hearing on 3 October, Samdech Krom Preah had considered accepting a compromise with Funcinpec, but Mr. Sao Rany and Mr. You Hockry had told him that he would win the case at the appeals court, and it would not be necessary to compromise with Funcinpec.
“Nevertheless, one has to wait and see whether Samdech Krom Preah agrees to be the president of the royal family members or not, or if he wants to pump out his royal blood – which cannot work, because he is surrounded with lawsuits.” Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #538, 30.10.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1479, 30.10.2007
- Six Tonnes of Explosive Substance and 1,485 Fuses Found in a Thai Stone Grinding Factory in Pailin
- A Mercedes [claimed to be] of Pol Pot Announced for Sale at $71,799 [by a British owner – Phnom Penh]
- Association of Asian Journalists of [South] Korea Come to Study Cambodian Journalism
- [Ken Sara] President of Student Movement for Democracy Takes Motorcycle from Thieves [who stole necklace from a woman] and Hands It Over to Police [Phnom Penh]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6179, 30.10.2007
- Poland Still Promises to Help Cambodia with Education
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3298, 30.10.2007
- 4,000 Forces Prepare to Protect North Korean Prime Minister Who Will Visit Cambodia [on 1-4 November]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4423, 30.10.2007
- Three Royal Family Members [Prince Sirivudh, Prince Thomico, and Princess Vacheara] Will Not Stand as Candidates for Elections if Funcinpec and Norodom Ranariddh Party Do Not Join
- On 8 November, The Cambodia Daily Publisher Will Appear in Court as a Defendant in a Radio Free Asia Defamation Lawsuit
- Samdech Dechor Hun Sen Encourages Poland to Increase Cooperation with Cambodia
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3172, 30.10.2007
- Samdech Krom Preah Continues to Call for Democrats to Join Together with Members of the Royal Family, in Order to Help the Nation and the People
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #538, 30.10.2007
- Hun Sen Agrees to Allow Samdech Krom Preah to Return Home
