Funcinpec is forming an internal “disciplinary committee” to resolve the complaints of at least 19 party members ousted from their governorships last month, a senior royalist official said Wednesday.
The panel was ordered by party President Prince Norodom Ranariddh upon his return to Cambodia this week, Funcinpec Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay said. An earlier committee had been established to offer staff jobs at the Interior Ministry in a bid to appease the ousted officials, he said.
The disciplinary committee will be headed by Funcinpec Senate Vice President Prince Sisowath Chivan Monirak, Nhiek Bun Chhay said.
“It will be to investigate this problem,” he added, referring to the outcry of former governors and deputy governors who have demanded the removal of Secretary-General Prince Norodom Sirivudh.
Those disgruntled members have alleged that corruption was involved in their dismissal and have warned that Funcinpec’s popularity will suffer if the dispute continues.
Earlier this week, Price Ranariddh downplayed the rift in his party, saying the ousted officials were merely exercising their “democratic right,” guaranteed by the party, to air their grievances.
On Wednesday, however, several of the former royalist governors and deputy governors said they were ordered to refrain from making any further public comment about the issue.
“It is too early for me to talk,” said Ou Bun, ex-governor of Kompong Speu province. He said he was told not to speak to reporters.
One former governor, who declined to be named for fear of reprimand, worried that the new disciplinary committee’s real intent was to punish and possibly remove dissenting members from the party.
Chhim Seak Leng, a deputy secretary-general, said Prince Ranariddh would meet with Nhiek Bun Chhay today to discuss the demands of the ousted officials.
“I don’t know what the Prince’s decision is for them, but since the beginning, he has never fired members from the party,” he said.
