Cambodian Politics in Future: Rivalry between Monarchy and Republic? [The real danger to the monarchy is Hun Sen. He will only protect the monarchy so long as it serves his political purpose and will be discarded when he no longer needs the monarchy]

 

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- If we closely follow the previous political statements of the leaders of the opposition party, we’ve rarely heard from Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha about the protection of the royalist regime but much about “change.” Also, the media people have never bravely asked them whether they will protect monarchy or what else?

The question will become hot in the political debates in Cambodia in the future. It is even more interesting when Prince Norodom Ranariddh said “ the royalist regime will come to an end, if Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha come to power,”

The Prince may think that the two opposition leaders ( Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha) are not royalists.

As a royal family member, Prince will certainly defend the monarchy that was reborn in Cambodia after the 1993 election under the United Nations’ Assistance. Another key royalist figure is Prime Minister Hun Senwho often publicly expresses his firm position to safeguard the royalist regime.

Yet, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha are rarely seen talking about protecting monarchy. With this hesitation of the opposition leaders (Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha), the Prince seems to be right to concern about the monarchy existence if Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha come to power. What’s more, the bitter history of the death of Sam Rainsy’s Father, Mr. Sam Sary, in Sangkum Reastr Niyum, a regime led by then Prince Norodom Sihanouk, could make it difficult for him to be a stronger supporter of a monarchy.

However, he could face difficulties in politics, if he demonstrates a clear position that he will change the political regime in Cambodia to the republic when he becomes the leader of this country.

He could lose some popularity in politics since Cambodian people used to have bitterness in the past under the republican regime led by General Lon Nol before it was taken over by the Khmer Rouge (Democratic Kampuchea) in April 1975.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh will use this card to play with Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha to regain his lost political popularity after his new party, known as the Community of Royalist People Party, was registered on 17 March.

The Prince may launch extensive campaign to show that Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha are the republicans so that Cambodian people, who love the monarch, will withdraw their support from the Sam Rainsy’s Cambodia Nation Rescue Party.

The war of public relations will start from this corner if the Prince wants to gather his support again.

The sizable campaign to reveal the color of Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha as the republicans may lead to the erosion of the support for the two political leaders whose support has increased due to the social discontent in with the last-mandate government. Until now, very few people have asked Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha whether they are royalists or republicans.

The Prince is taking this opportunity to push Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha to the republic.

How well the Prince plays his last political card until the next election in 2018? The time will prove his competency.

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