It was on this day in history, March 21st, 1981, 30 years ago that FUNCINPEC, french acronym of the United Front for a Independent, Neutral, Pacific and Cooperative Cambodia, was officially launched by its founder, the then Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Writing on the WARRIOR PRINCE Norodom Ranariddh, Harish C. Mehta wotes: "When Sihanouk founded the royalist Funcinpec Party in Pyongyang in March, 1981, Ranariddh wrote him a letter requesting that his father induct him as a founding member. Little did he know what shape the party would take."
According to General Nhek Bun Chhay in his book "A Luck in Thousand Dangers", at time of Funcinpec founding the Prince Shanouk enlisted many fighting groups at the borders with 3 major fighters camps at Bak Roneas led by Tuon Chay, O'Smach by Svy Thoeun and Tatum. The Prince also designated a veteran politician, Mr. In Tam, to represent him at the inaugural ceremony on the field.
The Funcinpec under Prince Ranariddh won the first elections organized by the UN in 1993, subsequent to the Paris Peace Agreement signed on October 23, 1991. A military confrontation between his army with his partner Hun Sen put him in a weak situation and his demise years later. He was forced to found his own party, the Ranariddh Party, and later to quit politics. He decided to come back and rejoin the Funcinpec...but the outcome is unclear. Funcinpec itself is now very weak and divided, not the same when Prince Sihanouk launched 30 years ago. Now becoming King Father, He can't do nothing to redress it.
FUNCINPEC members, old and new, must honor the Great Founder...
We will see...
Update:
April 2 : At an Assembly Meeting on April 2, 2011, the FUNCINPEC leadership elected General NHEK BUNCHHAY as its President. FUNCINPEC has won 2 seats at the last legislative elections in 1998.
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