Cambodian politics often depend on everyone pretending to have a short memory: parties trying to destroy each other one day find themselves partners the next.
That mentality has allowed political enemies of those in power to return to Cambodia from exile, usually to lives more quiet than the ones lived before their ouster.
Some, however, are not content to remain idle, and Prince Norodom Sirivudh’s return to politics could shake up the status quo that has come to define the power structure here.
A week ago, Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh announced that the man convicted of plotting to assassinate then-Second Prime Minister Hun Sen had asked to formally return to Funcinpec and be a parliamentary candidate for Kandal province in the next elections.
Prince Ranariddh said he warmly welcomes the return of his uncle, who was amnestied by King Norodom Sihanouk in a coalition deal between the ruling CPP and Funcinpec, which is holding its annual congress Monday.
Analysts and Funcinpec members say Prince Sirivudh’s return to politics could signal a turning point for the foundering party, which many say has become a complacent group in desperate need of inspiration and invigoration.
“I raise both hands to support him,” said Lay Virak, a Funcinpec steering committee member and deputy governor of Phnom Penh. “But I think if he is only a member of parliament, it’s not fair to his reputation and what he’s done for the party.
“Prince Sirivudh is firm and fair. When he promises to do something, he does it. He understands and knows the simple people,” he said. “I like him very much.”
Prince Sirivudh, who declined to comment on his return to politics, has kept a low profile since he came back to Cambodia in January 1999 after almost three years in exile. He is chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace and holds the title of supreme privy counselor to King Sihanouk, his half brother.
But he was once an active political player as secretary general of Funcinpec, the No 2 position in the party, as foreign minister and as deputy prime minister. He was also seen as a close political ally of the King, who went as far as threatening to abdicate in 1997 if tensions over the prince’s return to Cambodia dramatically increased.
Prince Sirivudh was one of the most outspoken members of Funcinpec, resigning from his post as foreign minister in 1994 to protest the ouster of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who was then a member of Funcinpec and finance minister.
Prince Sirivudh was also the behind-the-scenes strategist who acted as the political conscience of the party, reminding Funcinpec members of the principles the party was founded on when he felt they were in danger of straying.
That was during Funcinpec’s heyday, when its leader was the first prime minister of the country and the party was seen as a strong political voice, with power to back it up.
The fate of both Prince Sirivudh and the party worsened in 1996, when he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison on weapons and conspiracy charges after a local newspaper printed quotes of a plot to kill Hun Sen, attributed to the prince.
Since the factional fighting of July 1997 between forces loyal to Funcinpec and the CPP, the royalist party has not been able to recover. Some say the party has been in decline.
Now, Funcinpec is the junior partner in the coalition government, with little real power and even less motivation to change the situation.
Prince Sirivudh could be the key to rejuvenating old members and recruiting new ones, Funcinpec members and analysts say. Months after his return to Cambodia, Sirivudh acknowledged his party lacks a solid platform to offer voters and has advocated Funcinpec taking on more characteristics of an opposition party.
With speculation that Prince Ranariddh will succeed his father as king, many Funcinpec members say Prince Sirivudh is the natural choice to lead the royalist party.
“If Prince Ranariddh becomes king, there is no one else who can lead Funcinpec besides Prince Sirivudh,” one Funcinpec steering committee member said.
Despite not having a formal role in Funcinpec, the prince has worked to maintain his ties and create news ones. Since his return, he has often traveled to the provinces to meet people and assess the living standards of the rural poor.
“He has not been isolated completely,” said Kao Kim Hourn, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. “He has continued to network. Those who say he has been completely shut out of politics are wrong.”
And though Prince Sirivudh lived out of the country for almost three years—mostly in France—his support has not diminished, Funcinpec members say.
“Many people in the villages, the communes still follow him,” said Nhiek Kim Chhun, deputy governor of Banteay Meanchey province and younger brother of former Funcinpec general Nhiek Bhun Chhay. “The people still believe in him, even when he was in exile. When he becomes active in the party, Funcinpec will be stronger to compete in the upcoming elections.”
It’s unclear how much the old guard of Funcinpec, whom analysts say are content with the status quo and being No 2 in the political scene, would be open to the change that Prince Sirivudh could bring.
“Prince Sirivudh would be a strong asset and provide more stability to the party, but I’m not sure if Funcinpec leaders would welcome him back into the fold,” said Lao Mong Hay, executive director of the Khmer Institute of Democracy. “And I don’t know how that would fit into CPP and Funcinpec’s partnership.”
Indeed, it also remains to be seen how much the CPP will be at ease with a politically active Prince Sirivudh and a strengthened Funcinpec, after the ruling party has secured a comfortable role for itself and clearly holds power.
“The CPP has every reason to be very terrified,” Kao Kim Hourn said. “Prince Sirivudh’s return will be closely monitored by CPP. There could be a reaction. The CPP may try to keep Sirivudh at bay.”
CPP members downplayed Prince Sirivudh’s return, saying the past is the past. Even Hun Sen met with Prince Sirivudh a week after he returned from exile.
“We have no problem with Sirivudh returning,” said CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith. “In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies.”
CPP Senator Chhang Song, an adviser to CPP President Chea Sim, acknowledged that “Sirivudh plays his position very well. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he could make Funcinpec better.”
Chhang Song also added that when Prince Sirivudh returned, he said he would not return to politics, implying the prince should keep his word.
Kao Kim Hourn said using reasoning like that is a tactic that the CPP would likely use to keep Prince Sirivudh out of politics. However, he said it would be discriminatory to prevent Prince Sirivudh’s return, noting Prince Ranariddh and others were allowed to return to politics, despite being convicted of crimes and amnestied by the King.
Some say Prince Sirivudh’s success will depend on his ability to control what got him into trouble in the first place: his mouth.
“He has already paid for what he’s said,” said Lao Mong Hay. “If he can control his mouth, he can toughen up Funcinpec.”
