Reasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Courtesy of http://ki-media.blogspot.com/
Prince Sisowath Thomico (pictured) said in the afternoon of 08 December, that the majority of the royal family members support that Prince Ranariddh stop being involved in politics, and that he turns to work at the royal palace instead.Furthermore, Prince Thomico believes that King-Father, Prince Ranariddh’s own father, also wants to see Prince Ranariddh quitting politics. Talking over the phone from Kampong Cham province on Saturday, Prince Thomico said: “Prince Ranariddh used to hold the position of co-prime minister and president of the National Assembly, therefore, he shouldn’t come back to hold the position a party leader at the same level as Messrs. Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha.”Prince Thomico added that the majority of the royal family members support the idea of Prince Ranariddh quitting politics. He added: “In my opinion, King-Father thinks that Prince Ranariddh should work in the Royal Palace also.”Prince Thomico explained that, last year (2006), King-Father wrote an article stating that royal family members should quit politics. This statement seems to be aimed at Prince Ranariddh. Furthermore, in October and November of this year, King-Father expressed his opinion, saying that he does not support Prince Ranariddh forming a political party.Based on these two articles, Prince Thomico believes that King-Father prefers to see Prince Ranariddh working in the royal palace instead. In addition, Prince Thomico believes that Princess Norodom Vacheara and Prince Norodom Sirivudh both support the idea of having Prince Ranariddh quitting politics.Prince Thomico said that the prince (Sirivudh) and the princess (Vacheara) have also stopped their political activities as well. Therefore, the prince and princess most likely believe that Prince Ranariddh should do the same also. Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, used to say that Prince Ranariddh will continue his political career. Up until now, Prince Ranariddh never thought of quitting politics at all.Furthermore, Muth Chantha claimed that Prince Ranariddh will not accept the position of supreme advisor to the king. Muth Chantha considered this position to be empty and devoid of power. Negotiations to push Prince Ranariddh to quit politics started when the prince refused a settlement and a return back to the Funcinpec party.Muth Chantha said Prince Ranariddh cannot return back to Funcinpec, because this party lost all its sovereignty already. Also, Muth Chantha said that the prince’s grass root supporters do not support the idea of seeing him returning back to join Funcinpec either, and if the prince returns to Funcinpec, they will not vote for him.Until now, at least three royal family members of the Norodom clan are fed up with politics which is filled with verbal attacks. Prince Norodom Chakrapong, Princess Norodom Vacheara, and Prince Norodom Sirivudh, who all used to hold very active roles in politics, are known not to be involved in it anymore.
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