Deposed first prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh called Wednesday for opposing political forces to compromise in order to achieve peace in Cambodia, saying violence and confrontation would not resolve the country’s political crisis.
“Since my arrival, my language has been that of cooperation, collaboration and compromise,” the prince said in an interview Wednesday morning with The Associated Press and The Cambodia Daily.
“We should not of course compromise about principles, but if it would be necessary to compromise, for the sake of the country, I think that we should do it.”
The prince kicked off the interview by calling for calm amongst his supporters, who had earlier in the day clashed with anti-Ranariddh protesters outside the Hotel Le Royal.
“We are very happy but we have to calm down everyone,” he said. “The demonstration is part of the basic rights of the people….I would simply ask that any demonstration must be a non-violent demonstration, peaceful demonstration.”
The prince thanked his supporters and “all those who are against injustice” but appealed to them not to add to rising tensions by responding to the protests against him.
“Please don’t do any counter-demonstrations in order not to give any pretext to anyone to not allow me to stay longer in our country and to stand for the election,” he said.
Aides to the prince asked him not to step out onto a second-floor balcony to greet his supporters because of ongoing scuffles between rival groups.
The prince was speaking at approximately 9:45 am, several hours before tensions between the two groups flared into a riot just south of Wat Phnom, not far from the prince’s hotel.
Tension in the capital has been visibly rising since news of the prince’s return was announced, and many predicted an outbreak of violence might follow his Monday arrival in Phnom Penh.
In response to questions about fears of violence during the elections, the prince said he had faith in the international community’s efforts to obtain peace.
“The world community has made all the effort to bring me back home to allow me to participate in the elections, to do its best in order to have free and fair elections,” he said.
“The same world community will not let anyone, the losers, refuse to hand over power or create violence,” the prince said, adding that he hoped his party, Funcinpec, would be the victors. “That is my response to their very right concern.”
The prince’s party, Funcinpec, emerged as the victors in the 1993 UN sponsored elections, but were forced into a power-sharing deal with the CPP after threats of a secessionist movement.
The prince said that international elections observers were “the most important thing” to ensure July’s scheduled elections can be credible.
He also called for investigations to be carried out into the killings of more than 40 of his supporters in the aftermath of last July’s factional fighting.
In addition, the prince reiterated his plea for royal pardons for his resistance commanders Nhiek Bun Chhay and Serey Kosal in order to bring an end to the fighting in the northwest region.
“I think it is very necessary one way or another to have the royal pardon….Without that pardon, it will not be possible to really end the fighting,” he said.
