Opposition leader Sam Rainsy lambasted Prince Norodom Ranariddh in a radio interview on Monday evening, suggesting that the Funcinpec president accepted bribes from Prime Minister Hun Sen to join a coalition government with the CPP.
“The prince, it seems, has a secret agreement with Mr Hun Sen,” Sam Rainsy told Voice of America radio, indicating a sense of betrayal by his Alliance of Democrats partner. “I wonder what [bribe] he got. That’s why he changed his mind and plans of what were discussed in the past went from white to black.”
Short of calling the Alliance finished, Sam Rainsy said: “Let the leader of that one party betray and lie more…. We cannot join with the dictator and be the puppet to the dictator.”
Opposition officials expressed dismay over news that Funcinpec Deputy Secretary-General and Senate Second Deputy Vice President Nhiek Bun Chhay had given the final seal of approval to a controversial “package vote” measure, which the opposition strongly opposed.
“It’s a surprise news… If it is true, then it would be most regrettable,” said opposition spokesman Ung Bun-Ang.
He said it violated protocol for Nhiek Bun Chhay to sign the measure on behalf of acting Head of State Chea Sim without approval from King Norodom Sihanouk.
Opposition Senator Ou Bunlong said the Alliance is still in place. “I don’t know how far we can go, but we try to keep [the Alliance] as long as possible,” he said.
