(15 Apr 1997) English/Nat

A Hong Kong airline on Tuesday refused to fly Prince Norodom Sirivudh to Cambodia from exile, frustrating his effort to go home and clear himself of murder plot charges.

Sirivudh, half-brother of King Norodom Sihanouk, arrived in Hong Kong hoping to catch a Dragonair flight to Phnom Penh in defiance of a 10-year exile order.

But two hours before his flight was due to leave Hong Kong, an airline spokesman said the prince would not be allowed to board.

Prince Norodom Sirivudh arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt Tuesday, hoping to catch a flight to his native Cambodia.

The prince went into exile in December 1995 after being held for one month on charges of involvement in a plot to kill Second Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The prince was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison.

But Sirivudh has always denied the charges - and on Tuesday he said he wanted to return home to seek justice.

However, Dragonair refused to let him board, saying it had been told by Cambodian officials in the British colony that he was barred from his homeland.

After several hours of unsuccessful efforts to get permission to board the flight, the prince spoke to reporters at Kai Tak airport.

He told them he had a constitutional right to go home.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As I told you, I am Cambodian, holding a Cambodian passport and I don't have any intention to stay in Hong Kong, just in transit to Cambodia. It seems to me clear now that Dragonair have refused my boarding on Dragonairline. A representative of Dragonair said clearly in front of Hong Kong authorities that they received threats from the royal government to put in danger all carrier or freight flights trying to fly to Cambodia bringing me on board."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodum Sirivudh, exiled half brother of King Norodom Sihanouk

Fears have been voiced that the prince's return could ignite a new civil war in Cambodia.
Sirivudh said violence could cause the king to abdicate.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And my brother his majesty the King had mentioned very clearly that the FUNCINPEC and the C-P-P (Cambodian People's Party) are as a ruling party must take responsibility to resolve my case and he hopes the king that Sirivudh's case must not move to violence because the king would abdicate. It means that if you don't want that the king abdicates, then you must not do violence against me. I don't have any army, I'm just a member of parliament. (I) Fight for democracy, human rights, respect, I would fight with ideas and not weapons."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodum Sirivudh, exiled half brother of King Norodom Sihanouk

He added that he was willing to be jailed or placed under house arrest once home in Cambodia.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Amnesty International has said Sirivudh's case was politically motivated, so if you put me to the jail, I will be the prisoner of conscience, so I'm ready for this. Buy why do you use tanks and guns against me? Why you shoot down the plane? And why do you scare Dragonair?
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodum Sirivudh, exiled half brother of King Norodom Sihanouk

Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, who controls much of the military and police, has threatened to shoot down any plane bringing Sirivudh back to Cambodia.

A grenade attack two weeks ago against a political rally led by opposition leader and Sirivudh ally Sam Rainsy has sharpened fears for Sirivudh's safety if he does return.

The attack, which killed 16 people, is widely believed to have been ordered by Hun Sen.


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