Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday stated that he would not withdraw a defamation lawsuit against Funcinpec lawmaker Princess Norodom Vacheara unless the princess apologizes directly to him.
The lawsuit, filed in Phnom Penh Municipal Court Monday, accuses Princess Vacheara of slandering Hun Sen when she allegedly accused the prime minister of threatening to put her in Prey Sar prison.
“What I want is a direct apology by the accuser of withdrawing the above accusation,” Hun Sen stated on Monday in a letter to King Norodom Sihanouk. “I will continue [using the] court, but I am ready to receive and examine the direct words from [the] Princess and could withdraw the complaint in case the apology is acceptable.”
Hun Sen’s letter was a response to a letter sent by King Norodom Sihanouk on Monday.
“Yesterday night [Feb 16], my sister, Princess Norodom Vacheara came to visit me…and asked me to inform samdech head of the royal government that she would like samdech, please, pardon her,” the King’s letter states.
In the letter, the King does not explicitly ask Hun Sen to pardon the princess.
Princess Vacheara on Monday declined to comment on whether she will apologize to Hun Sen, saying that she would follow the advice of the King.
“This is above me,” she said. “I am expecting the King’s advice or response—what the King says or decides or asks I will do. The King is the highest personality in the country.”
On Friday, Princess Vacheara threatened to sue Hun Sen after he allegedly made the derogatory remarks during a weekly cabinet meeting of government officials. Hun Sen allegedly made his comments to Funcinpec Minister of Public Works and Transport Khy Taing Lim.
In order to sue the princess, Hun Sen would require the National Assembly to lift Princess Vacheara’s immunity from prosecution—a privilege afforded to all lawmakers.
It is doubtful, however, that any Funcinpec lawmakers would vote to lift Princess Vacheara’s immunity, party officials said.
“Most Funcinpec lawmakers are with the princess on this situation,” said Ok Socheat, Funcinpec parliamentarian and secretary-general of the Foreign Affairs Committee—the committee Princess Vacheara heads. “They cannot strip Princess Vacheara of immunity and since most [current] Funcinpec lawmakers are not running in the national elections, they are not worried about losing their jobs.”
Ok Socheat added that a direct apology from Princess Vacheara to the prime minister would decrease the power and popularity of Funcinpec.
(Additional reporting by Lor Chandara and David Kihara)
