Four senior officials from Funcinpec have rejected new positions offered to them by Prince Norodom Ranariddh as members of an “Elders Council” within the party, according to a letter obtained by The Post on Sunday.

Writing to the leader of the royalist party to decline the positions, You Hok Kry, Por Bun Sreu, Nheb Bun Chin and Yim Sarey stressed that they “cannot fulfil the roles”.

Signed on Saturday, the letter requests that the four be able to remain as party members.

Bun Chin, Funcinpec’s former deputy president told The Post on Sunday that he was tired and needed time away from work to relax.

Nop Sothearith, Funcinpec’s spokesman who was just recently promoted to replace Bun Chin, said he saw the letter from the four officials on news outlets online but hadn’t checked with the party’s administration as yet.

“When I see the actual letter, I will present it to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and see what he says,” Sothearith said.

He also confirmed that the offer of positions on the council was a decision made by Ranariddh himself. “At the moment, he is being treated abroad. When his health has improved he will return to Cambodia,” he said of the prince.

Responding to the recent shuffling within the party, Funcinpec’s secretary, Soung Phally, last week filed a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court demanding compensation of one billion riel ($245,000).

He accused five party officials – Hok Kry, Bun Sreu, Bun Chin, Sarey and Nuth Sokhum – of conspiring to end his membership in the party.

Phally told The Post last week that he filed the lawsuit as he had been assigned a job that didn’t match his contributions to the party.

Additionally, he claimed the five named officials didn’t uphold the values of the party.

“Those who have been working very hard received no benefit, but those that did nothing received the benefits. Therefore, I file a lawsuit demanding compensation of one billion riel,” he said.