Cambodia's independent French-language daily Phnom Penh Cambodge Soir carries in 22 March issue a report by Leang Delux saying while Nhoek Bun-chhai, deputy prime minister from the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] Party, was elected deputy prime minister at the 21 March national assembly session, Prince Norodom Sirivudh was voted out as both deputy prime minister and interior minister. Nhoek Bun-chhai was recently elected FUNCINPEC secretary general to replace the prince too.

Prince Norodom Sirivudh, one of the royal family members most involved in politics, the report adds, has lost, within a few weeks, two government posts and the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] secretary general position. Now, he holds only the acting FUNCINPEC chairman post until the return of Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

"Why did the two big names of the FUNCINPEC Party meet with the fate so different?" the report asks.

The report says a senior FUNCINPEC official who demanded anonymity disclosed that all of the 17 FUNCINPEC MPs present at the assembly session voted in favor of Prince Sirivudh and Nhoek Bun-chhai. Therefore, the reason Nhoek Bun-chhai obtained 106 out of the 111 present was that the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] supported him and rejected the prince. "This also shows that the CPP does not want the prince as the acting FUNCINPEC chairman either," he remarked.

The report also asks, was the rejection due to his characters or due to politically motivated considerations? Anyway, that might let people perceive that the CPP seek to distance the royal family from politics. However, if details are observed, just only a few royals are involved, the report points out.

The report says the high-ranking FUNCINPEC official also said, "I am going to cite an example: Princess Norodom Vichara has definitely been removed from the National Assembly second vice chairmanship; however, [Prince] Sisowath Chivoan Monireak has been accepted by the CPP as first vice chairman of the Senate." "Perhaps certain members of the royal family are asked to change their conduct," he concluded.