Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh has canceled his planned trip to the US because of the recent Mekong River flooding, close aides to the prince confirmed on Thursday.
“There is no other reason but the floods” preventing the prince from traveling, a protocol official said. “The prince has to stay with the people at this difficult time.”
But some Funcinpec members said the prince probably canceled his trip because he feared being criticized for leaving the country at this time.
With the country hit simultaneously by natural disasters and political turmoil in recent weeks, the prince likely fears being accused of running away from a difficult situation, they say.
The prince’s cancellation came after Prime Minister Hun Sen called off his plans to visit the World Summit on Sustainable Development which is currently under way in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hun Sen also declared he had to stay home because of the floods.
Under his original schedule, Prince Ranariddh—whose supporters in the US include many Cambodian-Americans—was to meet with US officials and lawmakers, along with Funcinpec Secretary-General Prince Norodom Sirivudh and Deputy Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay.
He was also supposed to meet Cambodian-Americans in cities with large concentrations of Cambodians, such as including Long Beach in the state of California.
But in the wake of recent political events, some party members say the prince may have lost international credibility. Tensions within the party became evident when Prince Ranariddh publicly criticized a National Assembly boycott that included at least 15 Funcinpec lawmakers.
“Both his American friends and the Cambodian-Americans who used to support the prince may have lost faith in him,” said a party member who asked not to be named.
Newly appointed Funcinpec spokesman Kol Pheng, secretary-general of the Assembly, could not be reached for comment.
Prince Sirivudh will lead the trip to the US in Prince Ranariddh’s absence.
