Ranariddh under fires from all directions

By Khmerization
Source: CEN

Prince Norodom Ranariddh (pictured), who had just made a political comeback, has come under fires from at least two directions after he made a public speech during the relaunch of his moribund Norodom Ranariddh Party on Saturday 11th December that he had met with Funcinpec Party President Keo Put Rasmy and President of the minor opposition Human Rights Party Kem Sokha to discuss about forming partnerships with these two parties.

Funcinpec Party immediately released a statement rejecting the prince's claims, saying that its president has never formally discussed with the prince about the merger and the prince's proposal to change Funcinpec Party to Funcinpec 81. The statement said it will never agree to change the name of the party to Funcinpec 81, saying that the name Funcinpec was conferred by King Father Sihanouk since 1981.

Prince Ranariddh had also come under fire from the president of the Human Rights Party Mr. Kem Sokha who had called a press conference yesterday to deny the prince's statement that he had made a political deal with the prince to form a partnership between the two parties. Mr. Kem Sokha admitted to have met and discussed a political alliance with the prince, but said he had not agreed to anything yet.

During the press conference, Mr. Kem Sokha had called on Prince Ranariddh to elucidate and clarify his political stance whether he was on the side of democracy or communism after the prince publicly declared that he would seek a coalition and partnership with the ruling Cambodian People's Party. Mr. Kem Sokha said his party always welcome all democrats, but reject any parties that partner with the ruling Cambodian People's Party. “The Human Rights Party always welcomes democratic parties, and the parties that are considering the country's interests and the people's interests,” he said.

In a statement released on Monday 13th, the Norodom Ranariddh Party said it regrets Funcinpec's refusal of its olive branch offer for a future merger between the two parties.