In his first lengthy televised appearance in months, King Norodom Sihanouk was shown on state-run TVK Monday evening, rebuking opposition leader Sam Rainsy during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
From his palace in Beijing, the King expressed his displeasure over Sam Rainsy’s refusal to join the coalition government and laughed at his multiple lawsuits against the Funcinpec and CPP leaders.
“Sam Rainsy is good at filing complaints. He seems happy with these things,” King Sihanouk said, referring to Sam Rainsy’s lawsuit against Hun Sen, which accuses the premier of masterminding the 1997 grenade attack on a protest led by the opposition leader.
Some people are “only happy when they are provoking others,” the King said.
He added that Sam Rainsy “has hung himself in the political field.”
King Sihanouk also told Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh that he was unhappy with the latest exchange of court complaints between political leaders.
Last week, Funcinpec officials threatened to launch a defamation suit against Sam Rainsy for accusing Funcinpec President Prince Ranariddh of taking bribes to join the CPP in the new coalition government. Sam Rainsy threatened to countersue, alleging Prince Ranariddh was responsible for corruption involving construction of the new National Assembly building.
“About the court cases, I’m not satisfied with that,” King Sihanouk said. “We should get along with each other, not to have the court cases anymore. This is my opinion.”
During the broadcast, which lasted about an hour, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen made few comments. The two leaders met separately with the 81-year-old monarch last week before their joint televised visit on Monday.
The King, who has repeatedly threatened to abdicate, said the country’s political situation—particularly the Sam Rainsy Party’s refusal to join the government—has been difficult for him.
In November, the King brokered a deal between the three parties to create a tripartite government in an effort to end the political deadlock. But the deal met resistance from the Sam Rainsy Party, which backpedaled from the agreement soon after it was formed.
“I faced the US, I faced France, I faced Japan, Vietnam and others, but I never had difficulties like today,” King Sihanouk said.
Referring to Sam Rainsy, he added: “I don’t understand why he agrees to let me help him, but when I say something to him, he doesn’t follow [me].”
In contrast, the King offered rare praise for his son, Prince Ranariddh, saying, “Samdech Krom Preah follows me.”
Contacted by telephone Monday evening, Sam Rainsy declined to comment on the King’s remarks, as he had not seen the television broadcast. “I haven’t seen it,” Sam Rainsy said, adding he had already discussed the political situation with the King when he went to Beijing last month.
“This is an old story,” he said.
