PM HUN SEN ANNOUNCES PARDON, PAVING THE WAY FOR

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000789 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM CB SUBJECT: PM HUN SEN ANNOUNCES PARDON, PAVING THE WAY FOR EXILED PRINCE RANARIDDH'S RETURN ¶1. (U) Summary: Prime Minister Hun Sen's September 17 announcement that he would seek a pardon for Prince Norodom Ranariddh paves the way for the self-imposed exiled Prince to return to Cambodia. The NRP decision to recognize the July general election results is paying dividends, not only for Ranariddh but also for the NRP. The last remaining Cambodian leader-in-exile is expected to return as early as September ¶26. End Summary. A Pardon is Promised -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On September 17 Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that Prince Norodom Ranariddh, President of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP),could return to Cambodia without facing the 18 month prison sentence imposed in March of 2007. The statement follows an announcement last week that Hun Sen had given Ranariddh the "green light" to return home from his thirty months of self-imposed exile in Malaysia. Ranariddh was convicted in abstentia for breach of trust related to the sale of FUNCINPEC property in 2006. (Note: The case against Ranariddh is intertwined with the party coup against him engineered in October 2006 by erstwhile co-party member now FUNCINPEC Secretary General Nhiek Bun Chhay. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) According to NRP Spokesman Suth Dina, Ranariddh is expected to return by September 29, possibly as early as the 26th. Hun Sen indicated that the RGC would request a pardon for Ranariddh to be signed by King Norodom Sihamoni, in order to facilitate Ranariddh's return later this month. Sources could not say what Ranariddh's plans are upon his return. Suth Dina informed emboff that Hun Sen's government invited the two NRP National Assembly members-elect to serve on National Assembly Committees. Will Ranariddh Stay in Politics? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Despite earlier rumors that Ranariddh planned to withdraw from politics upon his eventual return, Suth Dina affirmed to emboff September 19 that Ranariddh is committed to remaining in politics. However, Om Weakchiravuth, Deputy Director of the Cabinet of His Majesty the King, told emboff that both the King father and PM Hun Sen favor a prohibition on royal family participation in politics. Om speculated that legislation to this effect may be the subject of negotiations taking place between Ranariddh and Hun Sen. Om also told emboff that a CPP rumor was afloat that the two NRP and two FUNCINPEC members-elect would join to form a single party following Ranariddh's retirement from the politics. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: While initially joining with the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party in rejecting the election results, the NRP later reversed itself and recognized the results. (Note: The NRP won two seats in the recent election, dramatically down from their 26 seats in ¶2003. End Note.) Ranariddh's return appears to be a quid pro quo for NRP's recognition of the results. In fact, in the same breath that he announced the pardon, Hun Sen boasted of the success of his divide and conquer strategy against the opposition. While it is anyone's guess as to whether Ranariddh will continue to play a direct role in Cambodian politics, our bet is that it may be difficult for a political creature like Ranariddh to withdraw entirely from the political stage. End Comment. CAMPBELL