Prince Thomico Was Expelled From Funcinpec Party

Photo: Prince Thomico

Dear Readers,

Prince Thomico's expulsion has shown that Funcinpec under the current leadership has no tolerance for differing views. To say in short the party is sliding toward a dictatorial rule by only two men, Nhiek Bunchhay and Lu Laysreng.

According to Nov Sowathearo Prince Thomico was expelled by the decision of the Permanent Steering Committee but he also told Radio Free Asia earlier that the decision to expel Prince Thomico was made only two minutes into the meeting. This shows that the decision to expel him was made before the meeting by Nhiek Bunchhay with the agreement of Lu Laysreng. Keo Putrasmy and his PM cadidate-wife, Princess Arunrasmy, knew nothing and that they both are puppets of Nhiek Bunchhay and Lu Laysreng.

Prince Thomico has flip flopped too much. He is a loose cannon. But to expel him because of his differing views is not a good enough reason. It also shows that they only want to use him when they secured his defection and when they appointed him as adivsor to party chief, Keo Putrasmy. He has his point when he said that Funcinpec is playing one royal member off against another when they chose Princess Arunrasmy as their puppet PM candidate. They want to pit Arunrasmy against Ranariddh. They want the royal member to fight one another. But these royal members are not smart enough to realise that. Sad!!

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prince Sisowath Thomico was officially expelled from the co-ruling Funcinpec Party, said party spokesman Nov Sowathearo here on Friday.Thomico, also adviser for party president Keo Puth Rasmey, was ousted according to the decision of the permanent steering committee of the party, after he criticized its leadership and opposed its principles, said Sowathearo.Meanwhile, Cambodian-language newspaper the Rasmey Kampuchea on Friday quoted the prince as saying that he regretted so much, because the party leaders couldn't find solution for the national issues that he raised."And my departure from the party is just personal affairs," he added.According to the reports, Thomico had requested the party to drop its decision to appoint Arun Rasmey, wife of Keo Puth Rasmey and the youngest daughter of former king Norodom Sihanouk, as premier candidate for the general election in 2008.Because her half-brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh also stood as premier candidate for the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), he argued.Thomico used to head the Sangkum Jitniyum Party, later joined NRP and finally entered Funcinpec.Ranariddh was ousted as Funcinpec president in October 2006 and later established NRP. He is now on self-exile outside Cambodia.