Prince To Seek 'Unity' in Third Royal Party
Prince Norodom Thomico, who aborted an effort to form a party in 2006, has a new plan to revive fading Cambodian royalism. (09 Septembe
Q. You have a plan to set up a new political party,following the formation of a new government later this month. What is the mainpurpose of this party? A. I have a plan to find a way not to disqualify the voiceof the royalists. And I must set up a new party, but it is not clear how I canset up the new party. Q. How will you set up the new party? A. I want to remind people of the royalist stance. Currently,the principle of the royalists is not interpreted clearly. That's why the voiceof royalists has been disqualified and there is disunity among the royalists.Because there is no clear ideology, no clear theory, no clear principle, and noclear stance. Right now the royalist side has only individual principles,individual theories, and individual stances. Q. You set up the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party in 2006, butlater you gave up on the party and joined the Norodom Ranariddh Party, and thenFuncinpec. Why do you want a new party? A. Because now Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Partyhave weakened, endangering the Cambodian royal family in politics. I recognizemy political process failed in unifying the royalists. I also recognize I lostto [NRP Secretary-General] You Hockry and [Funcinpec Secretary-General] NhiekBunchhay, who are the leaders disunifying the royalists. I cannot let theroyalists lose. I must find a way to put value to the royal family androyalists once again. Q. How will your planned party help promote the honor andprestige of the royal family and the royalists in the Cambodian politicalarena? A. When the Khmer royal family becomes the national symbol,especially in the political sense, and when the royal family serves the king toprotect the national culture and works hard to show the big national problem. Ihope to do so. I hope and believe all walks of Khmer citizens can unifytogether to protect the border, sovereignty and culture. My stance is that theroyal family and the royalists can join in unity under the king and thegovernment to show the national problem.