VOA News, August 27, 2008: The ruling Cambodian People's Party will have the top seats in all of Cambodia's 25 ministries, as well as the Council Minister position, according to a draft of its new administration. Every administration since the 1993 Untac elections has shared ministerial posts, as part of the peace process, but the CPP's dominant showing in July's election means it will not divide the top posts. The new administration will include lower ministry positions for both Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party, but not for the opposition Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties, officials said Wednesday. Critics warn that the planned administration could lead to the decline of democracy and rights. The CPP's draft administration will include 36 political defectors from the Sam Rainsy Party, including secretary and undersecretary of state positions, according to the draft. "Those CPP ministers have talent and experience," said CPP lawmaker and Central Committee member Chiem Yeap. "The CPP is now trying to govern alone and keep partner positions in secretary and undersecretary [slots] and some provincial governors only." According to the draft, obtained this week by VOA Khmer, Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bunchhay will be promoted to a deputy prime minister position, the only non-member of the CPP to hold that title. The draft also shows several shifts in the CPP cabinet. At least five Funcinpec members will be appointed to "senior minister" positions, honorary titles below deputy prime minister that can include special assignments. Key ministries, such as Commerce, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Interior and Council of Ministers will all keep their current ministers, according to the draft. The ministries of Rural Development, Transportation, Education, Health and Culture will lose their Funcinpec ministers to CPP replacements. The ministries of Tourism and Religion, which have been held by CPP members in recent years, will retain their CPP ministers who recently replaced Funcinpec members.

Chinese President Meets Cambodian king

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Monday with King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8. Hu first thanked the Cambodian King for his country's support to the Beijing Olympic Games. "The friendly relationship between China and Cambodia is exemplary for countries of different social systems which want to treat each other equally and carry out sincere cooperation," Hu told the Cambodian guest during the meeting. The two countries are not only good neighbors that coexist in peace and harmony, but also good friends with mutual trust, good brothers sharing happiness and woe, and good partners working together for a win-win end, said the Chinese president. The Chinese government and people are ready to work with their Cambodian counterparts to enhance friendly exchanges, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, and promote common development, said Hu, adding that China highly appreciates the Cambodian Royal Family's "outstanding contribution" to the development of Sino-Cambodian relations. King Sihamoni responded that the Cambodia-China friendship was forged and developed through the efforts of several generations of leaders of both countries. He said the Cambodian Royal Family, government and people appreciate the long-time support and assistance from China and are dedicated to the development of good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with China.

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China's Top Political Advisor Meets Former Cambodian King

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin met here Monday with former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, who was here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Jia said the China-Cambodia friendship became a treasure shared by the two peoples over the past 50 years, and Norodom Sihanouk was an old and good friend known by all the Chinese people. China and Cambodia were indeed good neighbors, good friends, good brothers and good partners, as the two sides enjoy mutual trust in political field, have mutually beneficial cooperation in economic field, and support each other in international affairs. The Chinese side is willing to join hands with Cambodia to enrich and expand the bilateral relations so as to better benefit the two peoples. Sihanouk said the Cambodian royal family, government and people would adhere to the friendly relations with China and make further efforts to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship. China and Cambodia have maintained mutual friendship and cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic relations on July 19, 1958.

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Asean Offer To Mediate Border Crisis

Southeast Asian ministers urged Cambodia and Thailand on Monday to show restraint over the military standoff on the border and took steps to create a regional human rights body. With Thailand and Cambodia holding high-level talks Monday aimed at resolving the dispute over Preah Vihea temple, Asean Ministers offered to help mediate. “The situation has escalated dangerously, with troops from both sides faced off on disputed territory near the Preah Vihear temple,” Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a speech opening the meeting. “Asean could not stand idly by without damaging its credibility.” Asean ’s diplomacy on the issue “reflects a growing sense that Asean is no longer just a ‘talk-shop’, but a maturing community of nation prepared to act to acvance its collective interests,” Lee said.

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NRP To Launch Poll Campaigns

Flags were waved, flyers distributed and platforms promoted as cheering hordes trucked along the streets in 24 provinces-cities of Cambodia to kick off the 2008 national election campaign season on Thursday, June 26, 2008. Thousands streamed across the streets over Cambodia in truck and motorbike convoys in attempts to whip up enthusiasm for Norodom Ranariddh Party.

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Retired King Concerned for Future of Monarchy

Retired King Norodom Sihanouk has expressed concern that the Cambodian monarchy stands a chance of being done away with in the “more or less near future”. “In a more or less near future, the Khmer Monarchy has ‘chances’ to be, once again, ‘deposed,’” the retired King wrote in a statement sent to the media. “This afternoon, my beloved Son, HM Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, told me: ‘Papa! Do not worry for me. I shall return to Paris to live there in my modest studio.’” “I shall live in a Country that shall kindly, amicably (with a good heart) grant me asylum and…this country should take charge of the least expense for my housing and feeding. I shall rent (for me and my wife) a small room (with bathroom) in a small, modest hotel and our daily food shall also be very modest (bought from a modest grocer)”, the retired King wrote. “In order not to cause the Monarchy, once again threatened with being ´swept away,’” he added, “I permit myself, as their 'Doyen,’ to ask the esteemed members (Ladies & Gentlemen) of the Khmer Royal Family no longer to say or to writ that FUNCIPEC was create by N.Sihanouk; that such and such Parties and groups are ‘Royalist’ or ‘Sihanoukist.’”

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Training NRP’s Focal Teacher for National Election

On April 21, 2008 the Training on Focal Teacher for National Election was celebrated by Norodom Ranariddh Party under highest presidency Sahachivin Chheum Seak Leang, Vice President of NRP, Sahachivin Yu Hokry, Secretary General of NRP, and other participants at the Cabinet of Samdech Krompreah Norodom Ranariddh. NRP’s Activist from 24 provinces-cities was invited to participate.

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EUROPE Delegations Support Norodom Ranariddh Party

On 6th March 2008 evening Europe’s delegations had a discussion with high-ranking leaders of Norodom Ranariddh Party leaded by Sahachivin Chheum Seak Leng, Vice President of NRP, at the Cabinet of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh. Both delegations and NRP focused on Transparency, Justice, and faire for 2008 National Election. Delegations also supported the NRP policy and wanted to see Samdech Krom Preah presence for this even.

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FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF NRP

On 16th November 2007, Norodom Ranariddh Party celebrated its first anniversary, 16 November 2006- 16 November 2007, under highness presidency Sahachivin Chhim Seak Leang, Vice President of NRP, Sahachivin You Hockry, Secretary General of NRP and other high ranking-officers of NRP at the Cabinet of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, President of NRP. NRP was founded officially by congress of Khmer National Front Party on 16th November 2007 changed its name to "Norodom Ranariddh Party" and elected Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh as a president.

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INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION DELEGATION

On 24th October 2007, Mr. You Hockry, Secretary General of Norodom Ranariddh Party granted an audience to delegation of Inter-Parliamentary Union of England at the Cabinet of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, President of NRP. In the meeting, Mr. Hockry informed the delegation a NRP's policy for Commune and National Elections. He also pointed out the coruption and land conflict cause ingressing the poor in Cambodia. The delegation expressed feeling sorry Samdech Krom Preah absence during the meeting and they plan to write a message to Royal Government of Cambodia to guarantee justic free and fair for National Election in the near futurity. Especially they supported Samdech Krom Preah's appeal to unite alliance between democrat and royalist for 2008 National Election.

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Norodom Ranariddh Party's officers have an audience with H.R.H Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni

On May 26, 2007, Samdech Preah Mohesara Norodom Chakrapong, vice president of Norodom Ranariddh Party, accompanied by H.E secratary-general, vice secratary-general, and other 19 party's officers have an audience with his royal highness Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni in order to give a motion of Cambodian people that suggest amnesty for Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh.

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NRP's PRESS CONFERENCE

On 8th October 2007, Norodom Ranariddh Party made a press conference on the case of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh's sentence by the court of appeal in Phnom Penh on 3th October 2007 morning under the highness presidency of Mr. Chem Seak Leng, Vice President of NRP, Mr You Hockry, Secretary General of NRP, SKP's lawyer, and other high-ranking officers.

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H.R.H Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh to Promulgate the Validity of Working Group and Executive Committee

On November 20, 2006 morning, Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, President of Norodom Ranariddh Party, visited 100 members of Provincial Working Group in headquarter of Phnom Penh . He manifested a confidence to the NRP's members who are the main force for developing our country. The current traitors, who take FUNCIPEC Party to rule, will disappear as like as others, he continued. Samdech Krom Preah said that human resources and graduated students are very important implement for developing country. Especially we need a unity of Norodom Ranariddh Party's members and nationalists and do not dispute over series first or second seat because unity is an essential force and the first thing for reinforcing Norodom Ranariddh Party. The priority thing for Norodom Ranariddh Party's leaders in all levels are to prepare a main force solidly for 2007 Council Commune Election.

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Vice Secretary General of Norodom Ranariddh Party Visits Activists of Party in Kandal Province

On December 17, 2006, Sahachivin Sao Rany, Deputy Secretary General of Norodom Ranariddh Party and Representative of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, and other party's high-ranking officers visited the activists of Norodom Ranariddh Party in Kandal Province. During his visiting, H.E Sao Rany told the activists that Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh will come to Cambodia for his political affair and stay closely with the members who have supported Norodom Ranariddh Party. Mr. Muth Chantha , Director of Cabinet and Spokesman of Norodom Ranariddh Party, said “Samdech Krom Preah has sacrificed many thing and He also brought the Royalism, Democracy and Multiple Party Regime for Cambodian”.

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Samdech Preah Mahesara Norodom Chakropong Visits Kandal Province

On 6 th December 2006, Samdech Preah Mahesara Norodom Chakropong, Vice President of Norodom Ranariddh Party, went to visit the Norodom Ranariddh Party's members in communes of Takmoa and Kandalsteng districts, Kandal Province. He informed that the 2007 Commune Election and 2008 National Election are very important for our nation. Reply to the former FUNCINPEC members who have been threatened by FUNCINPEC leaders and local authorities, Samdech Preah Mahesara said "the 1993 Cambodia Constitutional Law have been written that all Cambodian citizen have a right to be a politician with a political party which they like. So threatening people is the illegal action" At that occasion, the members said that they have not really supported FUNCINPEC. They supported only Norodom Ranariddh Party, leaded by Samdech Krom Preah.

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Second Visitation of Samdech Preah Mahesara Norodom Chakropong in Kandal

On December 7, 2006 Samdech Preah Mahesara Norodom Chakropong, Vice President of Norodom Ranariddh Party, continued his second visitation in communes of Sa Ang and Kok Thom districts, Kandal province. During his visitation, Samdech Preah Mahesara urged the active members of NRP to register in the candidate list for 2007 Commune Council Election. He said "this even is very important for our people and a vote can achieve our national fortune. We have not to fall in someone's cheating. Reply to the former FUNCINPEC members who have been threatened by FUNCINPEC leaders and local authorities, Samdech Preah Mahesara said "We have to dare sue Human Right Organization because the 1993 Cambodia Constitutional Law have been written that all Cambodian citizen have a right to be a politician with a political party which they like. So threatening people is the illegal action" At that occasion, the members showed their stand that they have not really supported FUNCINPEC. They supported only Norodom Ranariddh Party, leaded by Samdech Krom Preah.

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The Official Congress of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh Party

On 16 th November 2006 morning, The Khmer National Front Party opened its official congress under the highest presidency of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh and Mr. Sut Dyna , president of KNFP , with the 400 participants. The Congress decided to change "the Khmer National Front Party " to "the Norodom Ranariddh Party " and elected Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh as the President officially.