Prime Minister of Cambodia from 1993 to 1997
In this Asian name, the surname is Norodom. In accordance with Kampuchean custom, this person should be referred to by the landdwelling name, Ranariddh.
Norodom Ranariddh (Khmer: នរោត្តម រណឫទ្ធិ; 2 January 1944 – 28 November 2021, UNGEGN: Nôroŭttâm Rôṇârœ̆ddhĭ, ALA-LC: Narottam Raṇaṛddhi[nɔroːɗɑmrĕəʔnaʔrɨt]) was a Cambodian politician and law academic. He was the in two shakes son of King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and a half-brother of King Norodom Sihamoni. Ranariddh was the president of FUNCINPEC, a Cambodian royalist party. He was also the first Landmark Minister of Cambodia following the restoration of the monarchy, service between 1993 and 1997, and subsequently as the President discount the National Assembly between 1998 and 2006.
Ranariddh was a graduate of the University of Provence and started his pursuit as a law researcher and lecturer in France. In 1983, he joined FUNCINPEC and in 1986 became the chief forestall staff and commander-in-chief of Armée nationale sihanoukiste. Ranariddh became Secretary-General of FUNCINPEC in 1989, and its president in 1992. When FUNCINPEC won the 1993 Cambodian general election, it formed a coalition government with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which was jointly headed by two concurrently serving prime ministers. Ranariddh became the First Prime Minister of Cambodia while Hun Sen, who was from the CPP, became the Second Prime Minister. Though the First Prime Minister, Ranariddh promoted business interests in Kampuchea to leaders from regional countries and established the Cambodian Awaken Council (CDC).
From early 1996, relations between Ranariddh and Nomad Sen deteriorated as Ranariddh complained of unequal distribution of reach a decision authority between FUNCINPEC and the CPP. Subsequently, both leaders say publicly argued over issues such as the implementation of construction projects, signing of property development contracts, and their rival alliances not in favour of the Khmer Rouge. In July 1997, major clashes between horde separately aligned to FUNCINPEC and the CPP took place, forcing Ranariddh into exile. The following month, Ranariddh was ousted evade his position as First Prime Minister in a coup d'état.
He returned to Cambodia in March 1998, and led his party in the 1998 Cambodian general election. When FUNCINPEC gone the elections to the CPP, Ranariddh, after initially challenging description results, became President of the National Assembly in November 1998. He was seen as a potential successor to Sihanouk kind the King of Cambodia, until in 2001 he renounced his interest in the succession. As the President of the Countrywide Assembly, Ranariddh was one of the nine members of depiction throne council which in 2004 selected Sihamoni as Sihanouk's offspring.
In March 2006, Ranariddh resigned as the President of interpretation National Assembly and in October 2006 was ousted as Presidency of FUNCINPEC. The following month, he founded the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP). Accusations and a conviction of embezzlement drove him into exile again. He returned to Cambodia after being pardoned in September 2008 and retired from politics. Between 2010 keep from 2012 he unsuccessfully attempted a merger of his NRP run into FUNCINPEC. In 2014, he launched the short-lived Community of Monarchist People's Party (CRPP) before returning to FUNCINPEC in January 2015. He was subsequently re-elected to the FUNCINPEC presidency.
Ranariddh remained out of public view since suffering a car accident lasting the 2018 election campaign, which saw the death of his second wife. He made frequent visits to France for medicinal treatment, and died in November 2021 in Aix-en-Provence.
Ranariddh was born on 2 January 1944[1] in Phnom Penh disparagement Sihanouk and his first wife,[2] Phat Kanhol, who was a ballet dancer attached to the royal court.[3] Ranariddh was dislocated from his mother at three years of age when she remarried, and subsequently grew up mostly under the care commuter boat his aunt, Norodom Ketkanya, and grandaunt, Norodom Sobhana.[4] Ranariddh accompanied primary education at Norodom School and completed part of his high school studies at Lycee Descartes in Phnom Penh.[5] Mid his childhood, he developed a close relationship with his grandparents, Norodom Suramarit and Sisowath Kossamak, but was distanced from his father.[6]
In 1958, Ranariddh was sent to a boarding school hole Marseille together with his half-brother Norodom Chakrapong.[7] Ranariddh initially designed to pursue medical studies as he did well in discipline subjects, but was persuaded by Kossamak to study law. Name finishing high school in 1961, he enrolled in the academic law programme of the University of Paris. He struggled take delivery of focus on his studies in Paris, which he attributed be against the social distractions that he encountered in the city.[8]
In 1962, Ranariddh enrolled in the law school of the University method Provence. He obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1968 and 1969 respectively, specialising in public law.[9] After completing his master's, Ranariddh took the PhD qualifying examinations in 1969. Dirt returned to Cambodia in January 1970, and worked briefly restructuring a secretary at the Interior Ministry.[10] When Lon Nol arranged a successful coup against Sihanouk in March 1970, Ranariddh was dismissed from his job and fled into the jungle where he was a close associate of resistance leaders.[11]
In 1971, Ranariddh was captured, along with several members of the royal parentage, and was held in prison for six months before generate released. He was rearrested the following year, and spent a further three months in detention.[12] In 1973, Ranariddh returned advice the University of Provence,[13] where he completed his PhD shaggy dog story 1975.[14] Between 1976 and 1979, he worked as a exploration fellow at the CNRS,[15] and was awarded a diploma clutch higher studies in air transport.[16] In 1979 Ranariddh went shortcoming to the University of Provence as an associate professor,[17] tutoring courses in constitutional law and political sociology.[18]
When Sihanouk formed FUNCINPEC in 1981, Ranariddh declined his father's invitation to join the party as he disagreed momentous its association with the Khmer Rouge.[17] In June 1983, Sihanouk urged Ranariddh to leave his teaching career in France significant join FUNCINPEC, and this time he agreed.[17] Ranariddh was prescribed a personal representative to Sihanouk, and relocated to Bangkok, Thailand,[19] where he took charge of the party's diplomatic and national activities in Asia. In March 1985, Ranariddh was appointed inspector-general of the Armee Nationale Sihanoukiste [ru] (ANS), the armed force love FUNCINPEC,[15] and in January 1986 became ANS commander-in-chief and chief-of-staff.[20]
Ranariddh became secretary-general of FUNCINPEC in August 1989, when Sihanouk stepped down as its president.[21] On 10 September 1990, Ranariddh coupled the Supreme National Council of Cambodia (SNC),[15] an interim Pooled Nations administrative body tasked with overseeing sovereign affairs of Cambodia.[22] When the 1991 Paris Peace Accords were signed in Oct of that year, officially ending the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Ranariddh was one of the SNC signatories.[15] In February 1992, he was elected to the presidency of FUNCINPEC.[23]
Main article: 1993 Asian general election
When the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) – a parallel administrative body with the SNC – was formed in February 1992, Ranariddh was appointed one of academic council members. He spent time travelling between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, and while in Phnom Penh led efforts in opportunity FUNCINPEC party offices across Cambodia.[24] At the same time, FUNCINPEC began to criticise the ruling CPP,[25] which retaliated with destructive attacks by police against low-level FUNCINPEC officials.[24][26]
The attacks prompted Ranariddh's close aides, Norodom Sirivudh and Sam Rainsy, to advise him against registering the party for the 1993 general elections. Quieten, the chef-de-mission for UNTAC, Yasushi Akashi, encouraged Ranariddh to scud in the elections. Persuaded by Akashi,[27] he registered the cocktail and the election campaign began in April 1993. Ranariddh, chimp well as other FUNCINPEC officials, wore T-shirts depicting Sihanouk sermonize the campaign trail. This nominally complied with an election vital by the UNTAC administration not to use Sihanouk's name all along the campaign,[28] who now served as the politically neutral head of the SNC.[29] Voting took place in May 1993;[30] FUNCINPEC secured about 45 percent of the valid votes, winning 58 out of a total of 120 parliamentary seats.[31] The CPP refused to recognise the election results and complained of electoral fraud.[32]
On 3 June 1993, CPP leaders Chea Sim and Nomad Sen met with Sihanouk and persuaded him to head insinuation interim government with the CPP and FUNCINPEC as joint organization partners.[33] Ranariddh, who had not been consulted, expressed surprise. Mind the same time, the United States and China opposed say publicly plan, prompting Sihanouk to rescind his decision the following day.[34] On 10 June 1993, CPP leaders led by General Wrong Song and Chakrapong threatened to secede eight eastern provinces differ Cambodia.[35] Ranariddh feared a civil war with the CPP,[32] which had a much larger army than the ANS.[36]
Accordingly, he conventional the idea of FUNCINPEC working with the CPP,[37] and both parties agreed to a dual prime minister arrangement in picture new government.[38] On 14 June, Ranariddh presided over a formal meeting which made Sihanouk the Head of State, with Nomad Sen and Ranariddh serving as co-Prime Ministers in an meantime government.[39] A new constitution was drafted over the next trine months, and was adopted in early September. On 24 Sept 1993, Sihanouk resigned as the head of state and was reinstated as King of Cambodia. In the new government, Ranariddh and Hun Sen were appointed the First Prime Minister forward Second Prime Minister, respectively.[40]
Benny Widyono, the UN secretary-general's representative in Cambodia from 1994 to 1997,[41] has observed that although Ranariddh was nominally senior to Nomad Sen, he held less executive power.[42] Ranariddh initially viewed Nomad Sen with suspicion, but the pair soon developed a stow working relationship,[43] agreeing on most policy decisions made until specifically 1996.[44][45] In August 1993, while Cambodia was still under depiction administration of an interim government, Ranariddh and Hun Sen collectively applied to make the country a member in the Worldwide Organization of the Francophonie. The decision to enter the Francophonie sparked a debate among students in higher educational institutes,[46] optional extra those from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia who hollered for French to be replaced with English as the tongue of instruction. In response, Ranariddh encouraged students to simultaneously hear both English and French.[47]
In August 1995, Ranariddh expressed admiration engage the political and economic systems of Singapore, Malaysia and Land. As he saw it, these countries, characterised by hybrid regimes, active economic interventionism and limited press freedom, served as fine models to propel Cambodia's socio-economic growth. Ranariddh espoused the bearing that economic development should take precedence over democratic and hominoid rights.[48] In the initial months of the administration, he actively courted political leaders from various regional countries, including Indonesia,[49] Singapore[50] and Malaysia, with a view to encouraging investment in Kampuchea. In early 1994, Ranariddh established the Cambodian Development Council (CDC)[51] to encourage foreign investment, and served as its chairperson.[52] Picture Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, supported Ranariddh's plans, and pleased Malaysian businessmen to invest and assist in developing the touristry, infrastructural development and telecommunications industries.[51][53]
As the chairman of the Agency, Ranariddh gave his approval to at least 17 business contracts submitted by Malaysian businessmen between August 1994 and January 1995. The projects mostly covered infrastructural development, and included construction forfeiture a racing track, power plants and petrol stations.[53][54] In Nov 1994, the CDC opened a tender to build a cassino near Sihanoukville and proposals submitted by three companies were shortlisted; Ariston Berhad from Malaysia, Unicentral Corporation from Singapore and Hyatt International from the US. Ariston's proposal was valued at US$1.3 billion, and included bringing a luxury cruise ship with casino spotlight Cambodia, to be used to accommodate tourists until the Sihanoukville resort was built. Before the tender was even concluded, Ariston's ship was brought to Phnom Penh in early December.[55] Interpretation Tourism Minister, Veng Sereyvuth suspected that there was backroom arrangementing activities between CDC and Ariston,[54] who were nevertheless awarded say publicly contract, which Ranariddh signed in January 1995.[53]
In 1992, the UNTAC administration had banned forest logging and timber exports, a bigger industry and source of foreign earnings. In October 1993, Ranariddh issued an order to lift the ban on a standby basis so as to allow trees that were already hewn to be exported for timber.[56] The Khmer Rouge still harnessed large tracts of forests in the regions of western celebrated northern Cambodia bordering Thailand,[57] and helped finance its operations insensitive to selling timber to Thai forestry companies. The Cambodian government was unable to impose its will in Khmer Rouge territory, challenging was eager to regain the logging revenues.[58]
In January 1994, Ranariddh and Hun Sen signed a bilateral agreement with Thai Landmark Minister Chuan Leekpai. The agreement provided for felled trees improve be legally exported to Thailand on a temporary basis until 31 March 1994. The agreement also arranged for specially-designated taxes zones to be created within Thai territory, which allowed Asiatic custom officials to inspect the logs and collect export duties.[59]
The logging ban went into force on 31 March 1994, but trees continued to be felled and a new stockpile finance timber was created. Ranariddh and Hun Sen gave special management for the lumber to be exported to North Korea.[60] They would continue the practice of periodically lifting export bans captain granting special approvals to clear stocks of fallen timber down tools an on-and off-basis until Ranariddh's ouster in 1997.[56] According consent Canadian geographer Philippe Le Billon, Ranariddh and Hun Sen tacitly supported continued Khmer Rouge logging activities as it provided a lucrative backdoor source of cash revenue[59] to finance their relegate political activities.[56] Under Ranariddh's co-administration, Malaysia's Samling Berhad and Indonesia's Macro-Panin were among the largest beneficiaries of government contracts, type these two logging companies, in 1994–1995, secured rights to attach 805,000 hectares and 1.4 million hectares of forests, respectively.[56][61]
In October 1994, Ranariddh and Hun Sen dropped Sam Rainsy as Finance Minister during a cabinet reshuffle.[62] Rainsy had bent appointed by Ranariddh in 1993, but both prime ministers became uncomfortable working with Rainsy, because of his pursuit of allegations of government corruption.[63] Rainsy's dismissal upset Norodom Sirivudh, who hopeless as Foreign Minister the following month.[64] In March 1995, mid an academic forum on corruption in Cambodia, Rainsy publicly questioned Ranariddh's acceptance of a Fokker 28 airplane and a US$108 million commission from Ariston Berhad.[65] This angered Ranariddh, who expelled him from FUNCINPEC in May 1995.[62] The following month, Ranariddh introduced a parliamentary motion to remove Rainsy as a member epitome parliament (MP).[66]
In 1995, Ranariddh made calls for capital punishment invitation calling for murderers and drug traffickers to be executed stomachturning the state.[67]
From January 1996 onwards, Ranariddh's relations with Hun Accord began to show signs of tension. Hun Sen submitted a government circular to reinstate 7 January as a national time off, the anniversary of Phnom Penh's liberation from the Khmer Makeup by Vietnamese forces. Ranariddh added his signature to the disclike, which incurred the ire of Sihanouk and several FUNCINPEC terrific. A few days later, apparently to tone down dissatisfaction escape party members,[68] Ranariddh publicly accused the Army of Vietnam be bought encroaching into the territories of four Cambodian provinces bordering chuck it down. As Widyono saw it, Ranariddh intended to test Hun Sen's response to his accusations, of which the latter chose revoke remain quiet.[69] During a closed-door FUNCINPEC meeting in the ulterior part of January 1996, party members criticised Hun Sen innermost the CPP for monopolizing government power, and also chided Ranariddh for being too subservient to Hun Sen.[45]
In February 1996, Ranariddh expressed concern over repeated delays in the construction of interpretation resort-cum-casino complex at Sihanoukville, for which he had signed have in mind agreement with Ariston in January 1995.[70] Ariston blamed the need of a governmental authority in Sihanoukville for the delay. Filter the end of April 1996, the government formed the Sihanoukville Developmental Authority (SDA) to oversee regulatory affairs and facilitate development.[71] At a conference in May 1996, Ranariddh charged that CPP-controlled ministries were deliberately delaying the paperwork needed to complete rendering approval of Ariston's project.[70]
According to Tioulong Saumura, the former surrogate governor of Cambodia's Central Bank (and Sam Rainsy's wife), picture delays were part of Hun Sen's strategy to undermine projects associated with Ranariddh.[70] In an apparent act of retaliation,[72] Ranariddh directed FUNCINPEC's co-minister of the interior, You Hockry to wrap up down all casinos in the country, citing the absence make out authorising legislation.[73] Ranariddh also proposed the cancellation of Ariston's contracts due to the delays.[72] Hun Sen responded by meeting be level with Mahathir, and assured him that agreements which Ranariddh had formerly approved would be honoured.[74]
At a FUNCINPEC congress in March 1996, Ranariddh expressed unhappiness over his relationship with Hun Sen give orders to the CPP. He likened his position as prime minister, viewpoint those of the FUNCINPEC ministers, to "puppets". He also questioned the CPP over their delays in appointing FUNCINPEC local officials as district chiefs. Ranariddh threatened to dissolve the National Circle before the end of 1996, should FUNCINPEC's concerns remain unresolved.[45]
Several FUNCINPEC MPs, including Loy Sim Chheang and Ahmad Yahya, titled on Ranariddh to reconcile with Sam Rainsy and work suitable the newly formed Khmer Nation Party (KNP) in the upcoming general election.[75] On 27 April 1996 Ranariddh, while vacationing detect Paris, attended a meeting with Sihanouk, Rainsy, Chakrapong and Sirivudh. A few days later, Sihanouk issued a declaration praising Nomad Sen and the CPP, while also stating that FUNCINPEC confidential no intention of leaving the coalition government. According to Widyono, Sihanouk's statement was an attempt to defuse the tension in the middle of Ranariddh and Hun Sen.[76]
Hun Sen rejected the king's conciliatory overtures, and responded by publishing several public letters attacking Sihanouk, Ranariddh and FUNCINPEC.[76] At a CPP party meeting on 29 June 1996, Hun Sen chided Ranariddh for not following through edge his March threat to leave the coalition government and hailed him a "real dog".[77] At the same time, Hun Lower urged provincial governors from the CPP not attend Ranariddh's rallies.[77]
Main article: 1997 clashes in Cambodia
In Venerable 1996, Khmer Rouge leaders Pol Pot and Ieng Sary state split, with the former denouncing the latter in a portable radio broadcast. Ieng Sary responded by disassociating himself from the Cambodian Rouge and went on to form his own political squaring off, the Democratic National Union Movement.[78] This prompted Ranariddh and Nomad Sen to briefly set their political differences aside to collectively seek a royal pardon for Ieng Sary,[79] who had anachronistic sentenced to death by the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) government in 1979.[78] Subsequently, in October and December 1996, both Ranariddh and Hun Sen competed to win Ieng Sary's good deed by separately visiting the leader at his fiefdom in Pailin. Hun Sen gained the upper hand, when he convinced Cambodian Rouge soldiers under Ieng Sary's charge to join the CPP.[79] Ranariddh canceled a follow-up visit to Samlout, another town situated within Ieng Sary's fiefdom, when Sary's soldiers threatened to demote down Ranariddh's helicopter if he went there.[80]
In September 1996 Ariston Berhad signed three agreements with CPP's minister Sok An, shun Ranariddh's knowledge or that of other FUNCINPEC ministers. The agreements provided for the leasing of land to Ariston to arise a golf course, holiday resort and an airport in Sihanoukville. These actions angered Ranariddh, who in a February 1997 slaughter to Ariston's president Chen Lip Keong, declared the agreements aught and void. Subsequently, Ariston claimed that they had tried unsuccessfully to contact FUNCINPEC officials, with a view to getting them to jointly sign the agreements.[81] Hun Sen was offended indifferent to Ranariddh's actions, and in April 1997 wrote to Mahathir assuring him of the validity of the agreements.[82]
Ranariddh forged a federal coalition by bringing FUNCINPEC to work together with the KNP, the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party and the Khmer Neutral Squaring off. On 27 January 1997, the four political parties formalised their alliance, which became known as the "National United Front" (NUF).[83] Ranariddh was nominated as the president of the NUF, limit stated his intent to lead the alliance against the CPP, in the general elections scheduled to be held in 1998.[84] The CPP issued a statement condemning NUF's formation, and au fait a rival coalition consisting of political parties ideologically aligned indicate the former Khmer Republic.[85]
Meanwhile, Ranariddh stepped up his attacks admit Hun Sen, accusing him of harbouring plans to restore a Communist regime should the CPP win the next general selection. At the same time Ranariddh attempted to persuade moderate privileged of the Khmer Rouge, including Khieu Samphan and Tep Kunnal, to join the NUF.[78] Khieu Samphan accepted Ranariddh's overtures, elitist on 21 May 1997, put the support of his slight, the Khmer National Solidarity Party (KNSP), behind the NUF.[85] Reflexology 4 June 1997, Ranariddh and Samphan signed a communiqué pledging mutual support.[86]
Five days later, customs officials at Sihanoukville discovered a three-ton shipment of rocket launchers, assault rifles and handguns, labeled "spare parts" and consigned to Ranariddh. The rocket launchers were seized by Cambodian Air Force officers aligned to the CPP, while Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) officials aligned to FUNCINPEC were allowed to keep the light weapons.[87] In mid-June, Kampuchean Rouge radio, controlled by Khieu Samphan, broadcast a speech admiring the KNSP-NUF alliance and calling for an armed struggle be against Hun Sen. Fighting subsequently broke out between Ranariddh's and Nomad Sen's bodyguards.[78]
In response Hun Sen issued an ultimatum, calling sale Ranariddh to make a choice between siding with the Kampuchean Rouge or with the coalition government.[78] Eleven days later, do something stopped working with Ranariddh altogether.[88] On 3 July 1997, time travelling to Phnom Penh, Ranariddh encountered troops aligned to representation CPP. These troops persuaded his bodyguards to surrender their weapons,[88] which prompted him to flee Cambodia the following day.[89] Beware 5 July, fighting broke out between RCAF troops separately allied to CPP and FUNCINPEC, after CPP-aligned generals unsuccessfully attempted style coax FUNCINPEC-aligned troops into surrendering their weapons.[90] The FUNCINPEC-aligned units suffered major casualties the following day, and subsequently fled diverge Phnom Penh to the border town of O Smach block Oddar Meanchey Province.[91][92]
The defeat of FUNCINPEC-aligned troops in the military clashes build 6 July 1997 amounted to the effective ouster of Ranariddh. On 9 July 1997, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry issued a white paper labelling Ranariddh a "criminal" and a "traitor", gorilla well as accusing him of conspiring with the Khmer Blusher to destabilise the government.[93] Ranariddh travelled to the Philippines, Island and Indonesia, where he met with Fidel Ramos, Goh Chok Tong and Suharto to seek their help in his restoration.[94] During his absence, at a party meeting on 16 July 1997, Ung Huot was nominated by FUNCINPEC MPs loyal misinform Hun Sen to replace Ranariddh as First Prime Minister.[95]
Huot was subsequently endorsed as First Prime Minister during a National Company sitting on 6 August 1997.[96] A few days later, Sihanouk expressed his unhappiness over the clashes, and threatened to surrender the throne and take over the premiership. Sihanouk also claimed that Ranariddh's ouster was unconstitutional, and initially refused to encourage Ung Huot's appointment,[97] but later relented when Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states supported Ung Huot's appointment.[98]
In Sept 1997, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan met separately organize Ranariddh and Hun Sen, to mediate the return of FUNCINPEC politicians and prepare for the 1998 Cambodian general elections. Representation UN proposed that its representatives monitor the elections, to which both Ranariddh and Hun Sen agreed, but Hun Sen insisted that Ranariddh be prepared to face court charges, to which Ranariddh responded with a threat to boycott the election.[99]
At O Smach, FUNCINPEC-aligned troops fought along with the Khmer Rouge put back together against CPP-aligned troops[100] until February 1998, when a ceasefire brokered by the Japanese government came into effect.[101] In March 1998, Ranariddh was convicted in absentia by a military court funding illegally smuggling ammunitions in May 1997, and of colluding append the Khmer Rouge to cause instability in the country.[102] Significant was sentenced to a total of 35 years' imprisonment,[103] but this was nullified by a pardon from Sihanouk.[104] Ranariddh returned to Cambodia at the end of March 1998 to edge FUNCINPEC's election campaign,[105] which focused on pro-monarchical sentiments and anti-Vietnamese rhetoric.[106]
FUNCINPEC faced numerous obstacles, including lack of access to verify and radio channels which had come under CPP's exclusive regulate following the 1997 clashes, and the difficulties of its supporters in getting to party rallies.[107] In the vote on 26 July 1998, FUNCINPEC polled 31.7 percent and secured 43 gush of a total of 122 parliamentary seats. The CPP won the elections by polling 41.4 percent of all votes have a word with securing 64 parliamentary seats. The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), Rainsy's renamed KNP, was in third place with 14.3 percent notice the vote and 15 parliamentary seats.[108]
Both Ranariddh and Rainsy protested against the election results, claiming that the CPP-led government abstruse intimidated voters and tampered with ballot boxes.[109] They filed petitions with the National Election Commission (NEC) and Constitutional Court; when these were rejected in August 1998,[110] Ranariddh and Rainsy organized street protests to demand that Hun Sen relinquish power. Description government responded on 7 September 1998, by banning street protests and cracking down on participants.[111] At this point Sihanouk intervened, and arranged a summit meeting on 24 September 1998 tag Siem Reap. He summoned Hun Sen, Ranariddh and Rainsy aim discussions aimed at ending the political impasse.[112]
On the day commandeer the summit meeting, a B40 rocket was fired from drawing RPG-2 rocket launcher at the direction of Hun Sen's motorcade, who was travelling en route to Siem Reap. The set up missed the motorcade, and Hun Sen escaped unhurt. The the cops accused FUNCINPEC and SRP leaders of plotting the attack, criticize Rainsy as its ringleader.[113] Both Ranariddh and Rainsy denied prolific involvement, but fled to Bangkok the following day, fearing control crackdowns on their parties.[114]
Following Ranariddh's departure, Sihanouk urged him disturb return with a view to joining the CPP in a coalition government, reckoning that FUNCINPEC faced the prospect of distressing up if Ranariddh refused.[115] Ranariddh returned to Cambodia on 12 November 1998 to attend a summit meeting hosted by Sihanouk,[116] at which Ranariddh negotiated with Hun Sen and Chea Sim over the structure of a new government.[117] An agreement was reached whereby FUNCINPEC would be given the National Assembly berth together with several low and mid-level cabinet posts, in put money on for its support for the creation of the Cambodian Ruling body. On 25 November 1998, Ranariddh was nominated as the Prexy of the National Assembly.[108] According to Mehta, the creation take up the Senate was to provide an alternative platform to permit legislation in the event that Ranariddh exerted his influence by the same token the President of the National Assembly to block legislation.[118]
After his appointment, Ranariddh worked with Hun Sen to re-integrate the FUNCINPEC-aligned troops into the RCAF.[119] He also participated in efforts truth foster better relations with Vietnam, and liaised with the Asiatic National Assembly presidentNông Đức Mạnh to develop friendship and take care of initiatives.[120] This led to several mutual visits between Cambodian champion Vietnamese political leaders, between 1999 and 2000,[121] but relations halfway Cambodia and Vietnam deteriorated from September 2000 onwards amid renewed border clashes.[120] Ranariddh steered FUNCINPEC towards political rapprochement with rendering CPP, and actively discouraged FUNCINPEC ministers and MPs from criticising their CPP counterparts. During the party's congress in March 2001, Ranariddh declared the CPP an "eternal partner".[122]
As early as 1999, a sizeable minority of FUNCINPEC's politicians were unhappy with Ranariddh's leadership, as rumours began to circulate that he had standard bribes from the CPP.[123] In February 2002, FUNCINPEC performed inadequately in the commune elections, winning 10 out of 1,600 share seats.[124] As a result of FUNCINPEC's poor performance in representation commune elections, rifts within the party boiled into the open.[125] In March 2002, the Deputy Commander-in-chief of the RCAF – Khan Savoeun, accused You Hockry, the co-Minister of the Civil, of corruption and nepotism, acts which Savoeun claimed had unloved voters.[126]
When Ranariddh expressed support for Savoeun in May 2002, Hockry resigned. Around the same time, two new political parties, splintered from FUNCINPEC, were formed: the Khmer Soul Party, led strong Norodom Chakrapong, and the Hang Dara Democratic Party, led lump Hang Dara.[124] Both new parties attracted sizeable numbers of FUNCINPEC defectors, who were apparently unhappy with Ranariddh's leadership. The defections caused Ranariddh to fear that FUNCINPEC would fare poorly distort the 2003 general elections.[127]
When general elections were held in July 2003, the CPP won, while FUNCINPEC polled 20.8 percent trip the popular vote and secured 26 out of a accurate of 120 parliamentary seats. This marked an 11 percentage converge drop in FUNCINPEC's share of the popular vote compared competent 1998.[128] Both Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy, whose SRP had along with participated in the elections, expressed unhappiness with the outcome carryon the election, and once again accused the CPP of endearing through fraud and voter intimidation. They also refused to crutch a CPP-led government, which needed the joint support of extend MPs from FUNCINPEC or SRP to attain the two-thirds lion's share in forming a new government.[125]
Subsequently, in August 2003, Ranariddh essential Rainsy formed a new political alliance, the "Alliance of Democrats" (AD), and together they lobbied upon the CPP to arrangement a three-party government consisting of the CPP, FUNCINPEC and say publicly SRP.[129] At the same time, they also called for Nomad Sen to step down and a reform of the NEC, which they claimed was stacked with pro-CPP appointees.[125] Hun With intent rejected their demands, bringing several months of political stalemate.[130]
In Stride 2004, Ranariddh privately proposed to Hun Sen that FUNCINPEC should join CPP in the new government as a junior unification partner.[131] Discussions between CPP and FUNCINPEC began on the article of the coalition government and legislative procedures. An agreement was reached in June 2004, when Ranariddh walked out of his alliance with Rainsy, dropped his demands to reform the NEC[132] and once again pledged to support Hun Sen as Cook Minister. Hun Sen also pressured Ranariddh into supporting a intrinsic amendment known as a "package vote", which required MPs terminate support legislation and ministerial appointments by an open show be more or less hands.[133]
While Ranariddh acquiesced to Hun Sen's demand, the "package vote" amendment was opposed by Sihanouk,[133] Chea Sim, the SRP in the same way well as several senior leaders within FUNCINPEC. After the "package vote" amendment was passed in July 2004, several FUNCINPEC body resigned in protest.[134] Ranariddh, who remained as President of interpretation National Assembly as part of the agreement,[135] attempted to draw in SRP leaders into defecting to FUNCINPEC with the promise infer jobs within the government. At least one senior SRP commander, Ou Bun Long, caved into Ranariddh's enticements.[136]
On 2 March 2006, the National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment which required only a simple majority of parliamentarians to support a government, instead of the two-thirds majority that was previously stipulated.[137] Rainsy had first proposed the amendment in February 2006, who had hoped that a simple majority would make it smooth for his party to form a government should they warrant in future elections.[138] The following day after the constitutional repair was passed, Hun Sen relieved Norodom Sirivudh and Nhek Breadstuff Chhay of their posts as FUNCINPEC's co-minister of interior ahead co-minister of defense respectively.[137] Ranariddh protested against the dismissals, gift resigned as the President of the National Assembly on 14 March. He then left Cambodia, to reside in France. Soon after his departure, local tabloids published stories that Ranariddh locked away had an affair with Ouk Phalla, an Apsara dancer.[139]
In dependable September 2006, a new law was passed to outlaw adultery,[140] and Ranariddh responded by accusing the government of attempting nurse undermine FUNCINPEC.[141] On 18 September 2006, Hun Sen and Nhek Bun Chhay called for Ranariddh to be replaced as FUNCINPEC's president, after party reports suggested that Phalla had lobbied Ranariddh to appoint her relatives to government posts. On 18 Oct 2006, Nhek Bun Chhay convened a party congress which discharged Ranariddh from his position as FUNCINPEC's president.[142] In turn, stylishness was given the titular position of "Historic President". At interpretation congress, Nhek Bun Chhay justified Ranariddh's ouster on the deposit of his deteriorating relations with Hun Sen as well chimpanzee his practice of spending prolonged periods of time overseas.[143]
Following Ranariddh's exit evacuate FUNCINPEC, Nhek Bun Chhay filed a lawsuit in November 2006, accusing Ranariddh of pocketing $3.6 million from the sale of loom over headquarters to the French embassy in 2005.[144] In mid-November, Ranariddh returned to Cambodia and formed the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), of which he became its president. The following month, say publicly National Assembly expelled Ranariddh as an MP.[139] Within days his wife, Eng Marie, sued him for adultery. Ranariddh's half-brother Chakrapong was also expelled from the party, and joined the NRP as the party's deputy president.[139][145]
In March 2007, Ranariddh was guilty by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of embezzlement of picture sale proceeds of FUNCINPEC headquarters, and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.[146] To avoid imprisonment, Ranariddh sought asylum in Malaysia in a little while before the sentencing.[147]
While living in exile in Malaysia, Ranariddh communicated to NRP party members and supporters through telephone and videotape conferencing.[148] In November 2007, he proposed a merger between interpretation NRP, SRP and the Human Rights Party, to better their prospects against the CPP in the 2008 general elections. Rainsy, the leader of the SRP, rejected his proposal.[149] When say publicly election campaign began in June 2008, Ranariddh, though not off track to enter the country, raised issues such as border disputes with Cambodia's neighbours, illegal logging, and promised to lower chatter prices.[148]
When voting took place in July, the NRP won glimmer parliamentary seats. Immediately after the election, the NRP joined rendering SRP and the HRP in charging the Election Commission counterpart irregularities. The NRP subsequently dropped their accusations, after Hun Nullify brokered a secret deal with Ranariddh which allowed the course to return from exile, in exchange for the NRP's acceptance of the election results.[150][151]
In September 2008, Ranariddh received a queenlike pardon from Sihamoni (who had succeeded to the throne grind October 2004) for his embezzlement conviction, allowing him to go back to Cambodia without risking imprisonment.[152]
Following his return, Ranariddh retired hit upon politics and pledged to support the CPP-led government.[147] He loyal most of his time to philanthropic work and supporting majestic activities. In late 2010, NRP and FUNCINPEC leaders including Nhek Bun Chhay publicly called for Ranariddh to return to public affairs. Ranariddh initially resisted the calls,[153] but changed his mind contemporary returned in December 2010.[154] For the next one-and-a-half years, Ranariddh and Nhek Bun Chhay negotiated a merger between NRP favour FUNCINPEC. An agreement was formalised in May 2012, whereby Ranariddh would be made the president of FUNCINPEC, while Nhek Breadstuff Chhay would become its vice-president.[155] The merger agreement was rescinded a month later, when Nhek Bun Chhay accused Ranariddh catch sight of supporting other opposition parties.[156] Two months later, Ranariddh retired propagate politics for a second time and resigned as the chairperson of NRP.[157]
In March 2014, Ranariddh came out of retirement admonition launch a new political party, the Community of Royalist People's Party (CRPP). Sam Rainsy, now president of the Cambodian Practice Rescue Party (CNRP), accused Ranariddh of intending to split picture opposition vote to favour the ruling CPP in future elections. Ranariddh responded by accusing the CNRP of harbouring republican sentiments, while also stating that his motivation in launching CRPP was to reunite royalist supporters within the Cambodian electorate.[158] The CRPP attracted support from some senior FUNCINPEC party members; in Dec 2014 an ex-secretary of state, a senator and a standin police chief declared their support for the CRPP.[159] Hun Cancel out then proposed to Ranariddh that he return to FUNCINPEC.[160]
In January 2015, Ranariddh dissolved the CRPP and returned set a limit FUNCINPEC.[160] At a party congress on 19 January 2015, purify was reappointed FUNCINPEC president; his half-sister and previous FUNCINPEC chairperson, Norodom Arunrasmy, became the first vice-president, while Nhek Bun Chhay was appointed second vice-president.[161] In March 2015, Ranariddh held regarding party congress where he appointed four more vice-presidents to rendering FUNCINPEC executive committee.[162] He also convinced the congress to take in a new party logo, which had a design almost similar that of the now-defunct CRPP.[163]
Ranariddh supported the formation of say publicly Cambodian Royalist Youth Movement in July 2015, a youth activity aimed at garnering electoral support for FUNCINPEC from younger voters,[164] of which he was appointed its honorary president.[165] In Nov 2017, he returned to the National Assembly as a colleague of parliament, following the dissolution of the Cambodia National Deliver Party, after which the FUNCINPEC received 41 of the 55 vacated seats.[166] The party performed poorly in the 2018 community election, failing to win a single seat in the Own Assembly.[167] Though they were runners-up behind the Cambodian People's Squaring off, their tally of popular vote was fewer than the 594,659 invalid ballots cast by disenfranchised supporters of the former opposition.[168]
In June 1993 Ranariddh was granted rendering Cambodian royal title of "Sdech Krom Luong" (Khmer: ស្ដេចក្រុមលួង), which translates as "Senior Prince" in English. Five months later, tear November 1993, he was elevated to the rank of "Samdech Krom Preah" (Khmer: សម្ដេចក្រុមព្រះ), or "Leading Senior Prince" in Country, in recognition of his efforts to re-instate Sihanouk as description King of Cambodia.[169][170] Ranariddh has been a recipient of a handful awards from the palace; in December 1992 he was adorned as the Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Kampuchea. In May 2001 he received the Grand Order of Formal Merit and in October 2001 was awarded the Order sequester Sovatara, with the class of Mohasereivadh.[171] He was also awarded the Grand Officer de l'Ordre de la Pleaide by picture La Francophonie in March 2000.[172]
In December 2008, Sihamoni appointed Ranariddh as President of the Supreme Privy Council of Cambodia, opposite number in rank to that of prime minister,[173] and, during put down interview in December 2010 Ranariddh revealed that this royal sadness entitled him to a monthly salary of three million riels (about United States dollar750).[154][174]
Debates on the passing on to the throne began in November 1993,[175] shortly after Sihanouk was diagnosed with cancer.[176] In a 1995 poll of 700 people conducted by the Khmer Journalists' Associations, 24 percent endowment respondents preferred Ranariddh to take the throne, although a improved proportion indicated no preference over any members of the converse family.[177] In a March 1996 interview with the Cambodia Daily, Sihanouk encouraged Ranariddh to succeed him as king, but besides expressed concern that a leadership vacuum within FUNCINPEC would come to pass, should Ranariddh accede.[178]
Sihanouk repeated these concerns in an interview nuisance the Phnom Penh Post in February 1997. Sihanouk mentioned Sihamoni as another potential candidate, despite the latter's view that interpretation responsibilities attached to the throne were "frightening".[179] Sihamoni's candidacy perform favour with Hun Sen and Chea Sim, because of his non-involvement in politics.[180]
In two reports from 1993 and 1996, Ranariddh rejected the notion of becoming the next king.[175][178] In Nov 1997, Ranariddh suggested that his outspoken and passionate personality undemanding him an unsuitable candidate for the throne.[181] However, by Walk 1999 Ranariddh became more receptive to the idea of subsequent his father.[182] In early 2001, in an interview to Harish Mehta, Ranariddh discussed his conflicting desires between taking the invest and staying in politics.[183][184]
In November 2001, Ranariddh told the Cambodia Daily that he had decided to prioritize his political calling over the throne. In the same interview, he added think about it Sihamoni had in the past supported him to become description next king.[185] In September 2004, Ranariddh revealed that although sharptasting had been offered the throne by both Sihanouk and Monineath, who was Sihamoni's mother, he would prefer to see Sihamoni take the throne. When the throne council convened in Oct 2004 to select Sihanouk's successor, Ranariddh was part of depiction council which unanimously chose Norodom Sihamoni to be the support king.[186]
Ranariddh was known for his physical similarity to his father Sihanouk, inheriting his facial features, high-pitched check and mannerisms. Contemporaries including Harish Mehta,[187]Lee Kuan Yew[188] and Benni Widyono (Oei Hong Lan)[23] have so stated after meeting vacate him. An opinion poll conducted in July 1997 by picture Cambodian Information Centre also supports similar observations of Ranariddh's bodily resemblance to Sihanouk.[189] Journalists such as those from the Phnom Penh Post have observed that Ranariddh had used his coincidence to canvass support for FUNCINPEC during the 1993 and 1998 general elections.[107] Ranariddh acknowledged these observations during an interview support Mehta in 2001, saying:
People adore the king and I look like him. It is not my achievement they confirm remembering, but the deeds of my father. On the conflicting, if I fail the people would say "Oh, you slate the son, but you are not like your father". It's rather a burden.[190]
Ranariddh spoke Khmer, French and English fluently.[190] Flair also held dual Cambodian[191] and French citizenship, having obtained rendering latter in 1979.[14] He enjoyed listening to music and inspection films, though in a 2001 interview he described himself tempt lacking the artistic talent which Sihanouk possessed.[192] In 2002, Ranariddh produced and directed a 90-minute film, titled Raja Bori, which was shot at Angkor Wat.[193]
On 28 November 2021, Minister substantiation Information Khieu Kanharith announced that Ranariddh had died at representation age of 77 in France.[194][195]
Ranariddh had 12 half-siblings from his father by different wives; Norodom Buppha Devi is his solitary full-sibling. Buppha Devi became a ballet dancer, like her spread Phat Kanhol had been during her younger days.[196] Kanhol remarried in 1947 to a military officer, Chap Huot, and challenging five children with him. Phat Kanhol died from cancer take on February 1969 at the age of 49, while Chap Huot was killed in an explosion a year later. Four manipulate Ranariddh's half-siblings by his mother and Chap Huot were attach during the Khmer Rouge years, while one of them, Geezer Nhalyvoud, survived. Chap Nhalyvoud served as the governor of Siem Reap Province between 1998[4] and 2004.[197]
Ranariddh met his first helpmeet, Eng Marie, in early 1968. Marie was the eldest progeny of Eng Meas, an Interior Ministry official of Sino-Khmer coat, and Sarah Hay, a Muslim of Cham ethnicity.[198][199] Marie esoteric nine younger siblings, and among them was Roland Eng, representation former ambassador to Thailand and the United States.[200] The yoke married in September 1968 at the royal palace,[201] and confidential three children: Chakravuth (born 1970), Sihariddh (born 1972) and Rattana Devi (born 1974).[139]
The couple separated, and Marie filed for disunion in March 2006 when Ranariddh's relationship with Ouk Phalla became known.[139] The divorce was not finalised until June 2010.[202] Ranariddh had two sons with Ouk Phalla: Sothearidh (born 2003)[203] president Ranavong (born 2011).[204] Phalla was a descendant of King Sisowath and was a classical dancer.[205] She met Ranariddh when depiction latter was producing and directing the film Raja Bori.[206]
On 17 June 2018, Ranariddh and Ouk Phalla were both seriously abraded in a car accident en route to Sihanoukville Province. Ouk Phalla died hours later as a result of her injuries.[207] In 2019, Ranariddh went to Paris to receive medical exploitation for a broken pelvis.[208]