Prince Ranariddh Is Silent on PM Hun Sen's Criticism

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Prince Ranariddh Is Silent on PM Hun Sen's Criticism
Reaksmey Heng
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
27/02/2006


Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized Prince Norodom Ranariddh from Kampong
Cham city, for the second time, criticisms alleged to be verbal
attacks, and that may be ignited to be political conflict between the
Cambodian People's Party (CPP), led by Mr. Hun Sen, and the royalist
FUNCINPEC party, led by prince Ranariddh.

The conflict may lead to a split between the two parties, after the CPP
shakes hands with the opposition Sam Rainsy party (SRP).

But a government high ranking official, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, says that
the alliance of the two parties in the coalition government has no
problem, because Mr. Hun Sen did not point to any individual or any
particular party by name.

On Sunday 02-26-06, Mr. Hun Sen mocks a party and an individual,
although not by name, but was perceived as saying that he attacked
prince Ranariddh when he said that he will threaten to withdraw any
government official who was appointed by a woman who is a mistress of a
high ranking official.

Mr. Hun Sen compared this woman to a demonic fox.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh declines to comment to reporters upon his
return to
FUNCINPEC President Prince Norodom Ranariddh
Cambodia from a visit to Singapore. A number of FUNCINPEC party's
officials who went to the Phnom Penh international airport to greet the
prince say that he does not wish to comment on current political
issues.

Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy welcomes the prince's position to
remain silent.

Mr. Khieu Kanharith who is the government's spokesman seems to defend
Mr. Hun Sen's criticisms, saying that the prime minister has not
criticized prince Ranariddh openly, but that he hopes that the two
parties will find a solution to this problem.

The CPP and the FUNCINPEC party have a conflict regarding Mr. Hun Sen's
proposal to change the National Assembly's committees' structures.

Mr. Khieu Kanharith says that he hopes the issue can be discussed very
soon.

.