Prince Norodom Sirivudh Re-enters Politics in Cambodia

Prince Norodom Sirivudh, half- brother of Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk was accepted as a steering committee member of the royalist FUNCINPEC party and listed as a candidate for the 2003 general election, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of the party said here Friday.

Prince Ranariddh, who is also president of the National Assembly revealed the political life of Prince Sirivudh shortly after he arrived at Pochentong Airport on Friday, from his medical check-up in Singapore.

Prince Sirivudh, 57, was sent into exile after he was allegedly accused of attempting the assassination of co-Prime Minister Hun Sen in late 1995. He left his political life since then.

The prince had been appointed as deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister in the coalition government since the 1993 general election sponsored by the United Nations, but he resigned about two years later.

In 1989, Prince Sirivudh was appointed as secretary general of FUNCINPEC party, but the position was removed afterwards.

Currently, Prince Norodom Sirivudh serves as president of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, and also a senior advisor to King Norodom Sihanouk.

Another senior official of FUNCINPEC party said that the political life of Prince Sirivudh will be clearly determined at the coming congress of the party, which is scheduled to be held in mid March.

Prince Ranariddh, however, said that Prince Sirivuddh would be a candidate for Kandal Province constituency.






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