Ranariddh under fire [from Human Rights Party and Funcinpec)

Monday, 13 December 2010
By Meas Sokchea

Phnom Penh Post

Photo by: Wesley Monts
Kem Sokha, flanked by former Prime Minister Pen Sovan to the right, speaks during a press conference at the Human Rights Party headquarters.

Kem Sokha, the president of the opposition Human Rights Party, has said he will not ally himself with returned royalist leader and former party colleague Prince Norodom Ranariddh, questioning the extent of his political independence.

Speaking to reporters at the HRP’s Phnom Penh headquarters, he called on the prince to clarify his political stance towards the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, with which Ranariddh has said he will seek a coalition deal.

“So long as the prince does not clearly show his stance, whether he is on the side of the democrats or on the side of the absolute communists … we will not open negotiations to merge with NRP,” Kem Sokha said.

Ranariddh formally announced his return to political life on Saturday, at the head of the newly renamed Norodom Ranariddh Party. He has called for the formation of a reunified royalist party – to be known as Funcinpec 81 – and expressed his interest in entering into a coalition with the CPP following the 2013 national election.

The prince, who led Funcinpec to victory in the United Nations-backed 1993 elections, was kicked out of the party in 2006 in connection with accusations of embezzlement and retired from politics two years later....read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.

--------------------------------------

Funcinpec Party had also issued a statement rejecting Prince Ranariddh's proposal to merge the two parties and form a new party by changing Funcipec Party to Funcinpec 81, to signify the birth year of the party which was formed in 1981 by the then Prince Norodom Sihanouk.