16 April 2008 By Phan Sophat Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Courtesy of http://ki-media.blogspot.com
Prince Ranariddh said that his return home is currently facing obstacles because the conditions set by Prime minister Hun Sen are not acceptable.
During a telephone interview from his exile in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the prince told RFA that accepting any of the conditions imposed on him would not only be his political suicide, but also the death of his Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) as well.
Prince Ranariddh said: “They have set 3 conditions: (1) I must write an apology letter to those who have maltreated me, just like what Mr. Sam Rainsy did. I cannot do this because I did not commit any mistake to the nation or to the country at all. (2) They said that, I, Norodom Ranariddh should stop being involved in politics. If I stop getting involved in politics today, tomorrow I can return back home right away. I am telling you: Norodom Ranariddh cannot stop being involved in politics. God! I cannot accept this second condition. And for the third condition, they said that I must return to lead the Funcinpec party again: I am telling you that I cannot return back to Funcinpec.”
In reaction of the prince’s announcement, Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and CPP spokesman, said that the prince’s claims are merely his political game to hide his own offences only.
Khieu Kanharith said: “Samdach Hun Sen never interferes in Prince Ranariddh’s problems. We already know that, regarding letters, it was in fact the prince who wrote letter(s) to Samdach Hun Sen to nominate his people to negotiate his case. Samdach Hun Sen even showed these letters to reporters also. The prince's legal case is a criminal case. But, we know that, if Funcinpec, the plaintiff, withdraws its complaint, then arrangements could be made, however, when the prince saw that, he thought that Samdach Hun Sen was setting conditions. The prince and Samdach Hun Sen are not in any quarrel with each other. Furthermore, Samdach PM only wants to help facilitate (Ranariddh's return), but there is no conditions attached.”
Prince Ranariddh has been living in exile for the past several months, following the conviction handed down to him by the Phnom Penh municipal court in regards to the sale of the party property lawsuit brought up by Nhiek Bun Chhay, the prince's former colleague who is now the party secretary-general.
Regarding this lawsuit, Prince Ranariddh accused Hun Sen of being behind the attempt to kill his political career, but Hun Sen kept on insisting that this problem is the prince’s personal issue.
Prince Ranariddh said also that his absence from the country, especially, during the upcoming general election, will not render this election free and fair.
Nevertheless, government officials and national and international observers said that, even with the absence of the prince, the NRP can still conduct its political activities and participates in the upcoming election.
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