SUNDAY, 02 JANUARY 2011By MEAS SOKCHEA
Phnom Penh Post
Photo by: Sovan Philong
Prince Norodom Ranariddh speaks during an interview with The Post last month.
Leaders of the royalist Funcinpec party have reaffirmed their opposition to a merger with Prince Norodom Ranariddh’s self-named party, only weeks after the former prime minister floated the proposal.
Prince Ranariddh, who made a surprise return to political life last month, has proposed the creation of a new party – to be called Funcinpec 81 – as a means of reuniting and reinvigorating the Kingdom’s flagging royalist movement.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the heads of Funcinpec, which is now in government as the minor coalition partner of the Cambodian People’s Party, said the party would not take part in any merger.
“The Funcinpec party would like to deny and reject completely a request or any initiative about the merger of the Funcinpec 81 movement,” read the statement.
It added that a December 6 meeting between the Norodom Ranariddh Party head and Funcinpec president Keo Puth Reaksmey was private and did not indicate any agreement on the merger plan.
The statement did not indicate why Funcinpec was rejecting the Prince’s proposal, but early last month Funcinpec officials said that relinquishing the Funcinpec name would disrupt the party’s historical continuity and impact its popularity.
Since Funcinpec’s victory in the elections in 1993, the royalist movement has been on a steady decline. In 2008, both royalist parties won a combined four seats in the 123-seat National Assembly.
On Sunday, NRP representatives expressed regret at Funcinpec’s position on the merger.
“I am so regretful about the Funcinpec party’s rejection,” said NRP spokesman Pen Sangha. “I’m not saying that the present Funcinpec has walked far from its previous principles; I want to keep and defend Funcinpec’s principles ... The best way is the merger of both royalist parties.”
Keo Puth Reaksmey could not be reached for comment Sunday, but Funcinpec spokesman Tom Sambol reiterated that his December meeting with Ranariddh was private in nature.
3 comments:
FUNCINPEC and NRP are doomed for eternity!
Only in Cambodia can they still get some votes!
Anet Khmer
MR. Rainsy your mentality is not tough (ladyboy), you are weak very weak and you got a avery, very and weake teams, you suround yourselfe with most ignorance people the only skile you and your team has is master in managing criticising, hatreat and anger to divide khmer hate each other. how do you expect to win, you clearly see yourself you will faile evry ellections. most people they clearly I mean cristale clear see you Mr. Sam rainsy you make a living on SRP party. you don't have political party you set SRP for your own business with a agroup of your weakness people. Let looke at futur, Kem sokha will take over soon, and you Rainsy may bege Hun sen to joint new gov'e. you want to bet with me, your leadeshipe skile is nothing compared to hundred thousand of Cambodian people they are much smarter and higher talented than you are Rainsy. stope being supperior you only see yourself that way, now you forget many Cambodian people they have many PHD. honesely you got bunch of ignorance very skileful in criticising, you are weakness ladyboy that why you attract only weaker people around you, I can't afford to have those people with me. you Rainsy not even have a management skile.lived with your mess and stope cheat people money for your breat and better.
To above comment,
Your writing skills are sub-par and seriously need schooling. My brains are beginning to numb by trying to make sense of your what you intend to say.
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