CAMBODIA'S MAN WHO WON'T BE KING -- RANARIDDH'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 001701 DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USAID/ANE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014 TAGS: PGOV KDEM CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIA'S MAN WHO WON'T BE KING -- RANARIDDH'S SNIT FIT Classified By: DCM Mark C. Storella for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) As Cambodia crowns King Norodom Sihamoni today, his half-brother, Norodom Ranariddh, is infuriating even supporters through childish and petulant behavior. Ranariddh is stealing local headlines from the solemn coronation ceremonies through a series recent missteps: -- On October 25, Ranariddh's car was not permitted to enter the palace through the central gate, as Ranariddh sought to follow in behind the new King's motorcade. Ranariddh was furious. On October 26, Ranariddh insisted on removal of the senior palace police security officer for closing the gates in his face. -- On October 26, Ranariddh called for the ouster of senior palace minister Kong Som-ol, arguing that the position should not be held by an individual aligned with a political party, the CPP. -- Also on October 26, Ranariddh, who is president of the National Assembly, attacked Information Minister Khieu Ranariddh for halting live broadcasts on government TV of National Assembly sessions in favor of 15-minute summaries. Kanharith argued that viewers were not interested and that the only ones asking for airing of the full sessions were the Parliamentarians themselves. -- On October 28, Ranariddh raised eyebrows throughout the royal family by failing to attend a Buddhist coronation rite for royals. -- On October 29, Ranariddh emerged from one of the coronation ceremonies to face a phalanx of reporters. He avoided controversy until the end when he was asked if he regretted that he was not King. Ranariddh responded that he did not mind because, while not King, he was "a King maker." ¶2. (C) Over dinner October 28 with Ambassador and visiting U.S. ECOSOC Ambassador Sichan Siv, three leading members of Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC party all expressed disgust with the Prince's behavior. While all three had some personal reasons to be angry with Ranariddh, the strength of their condemnations was striking. Prince Sisowath Sirirath noted that Ranariddh did not even know that, under palace protocol, only the King, the PM and heads of state were permitted to use the gate from which Ranariddh had been blocked. Sirirath told the story of Napoleon, who approached the gates of Fontainbleau in normal clothes and was barred by the guard. On returning in full imperial regalia, he elevated the guard to general of his guard for sticking to the rules. Sirirath commented that that was the way a leader should act, whereas Ranariddh had responded with pique and fired someone who was simply following orders. ¶3. (C) FUNCINPEC Deputy Secretary General Sina Than expressed frustration with Ranariddh's inability to keep his mouth shut. Sina noted that the National Assembly and FUNCINPEC had spokesmen and Ranariddh should avail himself of their services rather than speaking every time there was an open microphone. The group went on to say that Ranariddh had become increasingly unserious as a political leader. They expressed irritation with his fawning efforts to curry favor with Hun Sen, noting Ranariddh's recent declaration that the police should report directly to the PM so that they would not be subject to political manipulation. The FUNCINPEC members considered this patent nonsense. Japanese Ambassador Takahashi told Ambassador that Sihanouk had expressed his own disgust with Ranariddh during an audience October 27. Sihanouk reportedly said that Ranariddh had demonstrated consistent bad judgment and tat Sihamoni was the better choice to preserve the monarchy. ¶4. (C) Comment: Ranariddh's poor comportment over the past week clearly demonstrates his pique at being passed over for a younger half-brother as King. While Ranariddh has vociferously denied any desire to ascent the throne of late, former King Sihanouk has commented simply that, "anyone who tells you they do not want to be King is lying." Our dinner companions October 28 expressed grave doubt in Ranariddh's leadership ability, suggesting that, rather than raising his stature, he is increasingly making himself a laughing stock. King Sihamoni's reserved and respectful behavior, by contrast, seems quite regal indeed. Ray