Cambodian National Olympic Committee Secretary-General Meas Sarin has asked Prime Minister Hun Sen to consider removing Prince Norodom Ranariddh from his position as the committee’s president.
Meas Sarin said Wednesday that he has suggested to the prime minister that a congress be held to elect a new president because Prince Ranariddh has been absent from his position since February.
“It is up to the government to make the decision,” said Meas Sarin, who is also a member of the CPP.
“If there is still no leadership, the government should consider having a congress to elect a new president,” he said.
He added that the committee currently lacks leadership and structure.
“Currently we are facing difficulties because I am running it like a caretaker government,” Meas Sarin said.
Funcinpec’s Ministry of Education Undersecretary of State Bou Chomserei, who is also an executive member of the Olympic committee, said he was not aware of Meas Sarin’s request.
He added that Prince Ranariddh was elected to a five-year term as president with Hun Sen’s consent in 2005 and that a new congress could only be called with the prince’s permission.
The prince’s continued absence is not a sufficient reason to remove him, he added.
Bou Chomserei also said that there was no proof yet to support Hun Sen’s recent allegations that the prince lavishly spent $1 million of funds donated to the NOC.
“There are no results from the government’s inspection yet,” he said, adding that there were no major sporting events that have required the prince’s presence.
“We need an influential leader to improve the sport sector,” he said in support of keeping the prince in his position.
