The Norodom Ranariddh Party on Tuesday requested a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni to present him with petitions seeking a royal pardon for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, officials said.
NRP spokesman Muth Channtha said the party sent a letter to the Royal Palace to request an audience, to which the party hopes to send 19 delegates.
“We want to present the petitions to the King seeking justice for Prince Norodom Ranariddh,” Muth Channtha said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court in March sentenced Prince Ranariddh to 18 months in prison in absentia for breach of contract. The prince is currently in Malaysia.
Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol could not be reached for comment.
Prince Sisowath Thomico, whose Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party plans to officially merge with the NRP at the end of the month, said that he hoped King Sihamoni would use his constitutional powers to grant amnesty to Prince Ranariddh.
On Monday, NRP officials participated in a Buddhist ceremony conducted by Supreme Patriarch Bou Kry, who heads the royalist-affiliated Dhammayut sect, at Wat Botum, to try and rally spiritual support for Prince Ranariddh.
“We had a Buddhist ceremony to eliminate [Prince Ranariddh’s] bad luck, so that the prince can return to the country to lead the party,” said Prince Thomico, who also attended.
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the NRP has the right to ask the King to grant amnesty, though he declined to discuss the matter further.
Funcinpec spokesman Nouv Sovathero said King Sihamoni should not grant amnesty to Prince Ranariddh.
“The King is neutral [with regards to] the shape of all political parties, so like a parent, he cannot say who is right or wrong,” Nouv Sovathero said.
