CAMBODIA: FUTURE OF COALITION GOVERNMENT COMES UNDER THREAT AGAIN

(16 Apr 1997) Khmer/Natsound

Cambodia's political future appeared more uncertain Tuesday after a senior member of the royalist Funcinpec party attacked its leader, First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh.

Finance Minister Ung Phan announced on national television a party split within Funcinpec over Prince Ranariddh's leadership.

The director of Prince Ranariddh's Cabinet, Ly Thuch, down played the Finance Minister's statement, which he said would be ignored.

The apparent division looks set to further fragment Cambodia's political scene.

The future of Cambodia's coalition government is once again coming under threat.

A senior member of Cambodia's royalist Funcinpec party attacked First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh Tuesday, and announced a potentially crippling split within the party.

Finance Minister Ung Phan announced the split on national television - a move which could shift more power to Ranariddh's rival, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, who currently heads the Cambodian People's Party, or C-P-P.

Funcinpec and the C-P-P share power in a coalition government.

Phan - a former C-P-P member - focused his attack on Prince Ranariddh but also demanded a shake up of the party to remove what he called corrupt elements.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"I have the points one to remove the leader of Funcinpec. Two, to get rid of corrupt officials in order to make the party fit for its position as winner of the 1993 election."
SUPER CAPTION: Ung Phan, Cambodian Finance Minister

Ung Phan did not say how many people supported the split, which appears to have been orchestrated by its rival, the C-P-P.

However, another disenchanted party member who said he supported the Finance Minister's statements claimed that 20 other royalist members of Parliament supported the split.

Phan has warned many more could follow.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"If these mistaken actions continue, more Funcinpec members will resign from the party."
SUPER CAPTION: Ung Phan, Cambodian Finance Minister

Phan criticised efforts by Funcinpec to negotiate with Khmer Rouge guerrilla leader Ta Mok.

He also condemned the creation of a political alliance with the outlawed opposition Khmer Nation Party and Khmer Rouge defectors.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"I can no longer keep my patience. I've kept my patience for many years. I thought things could improve, but on the contrary, they've got worse and worse."
SUPER CAPTION: Ung Phan, Cambodian Finance Minister

Prince Ranariddh left the country suddenly Monday and is believed to be in Singapore.

His Cabinet director, Ly Thuch, down played Phan's statement, saying it could be ignored.

The apparent split within the royalist party threatens to further fragment Cambodia's already volatile political scene.

Although Funcinpec and the C-P-P share power in a coalition government, their uneasy partnership has openly deteriorated and led to incidents of armed conflict over the past year.

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