National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh left Phnom Penh for the weekend for private reasons Friday, his cabinet chief said Saturday.
The prince’s trip comes less than a week after he returned to Cambodia from nearly a month abroad.
Cabinet chief Thach Bunrouen declined to comment on where Prince Ranariddh went or to give any details for the trip. He said the prince would return Sunday or today.
One Asian diplomat said a possible reason for Prince Ranariddh’s departure was to go to Bangkok to meet with former royalist general Nhiek Bun Chhay about reintegration of Funcinpec forces. Nhiek Bun Chhay himself is said to be in Bangkok, having postponed his return until the Senate is formed and he is named a Senator with parliamentary immunity.
Thach Bunrouen also confirmed that Prince Norodom Sirivudh left Friday for the US, but did not provide any details about when he will be returning, nor for what reasons he departed.
It is still unclear what role Prince Sirivudh, the former Funcinpec secretary-general who recently returned from exile, will hold in the royalist party. A party congress is scheduled for March 21, senior Funcinpec member Serey Kosal confirmed Sunday.
