Prime Minister Hun Sen has slammed comments made by Prince Norodom Ranariddh suggesting that King Norodom Sihamoni would meet with leaders of the ruling and opposition parties over the ongoing dispute on the Cambodian-Vietnamese border.

“Previously, you [Ranariddh] used the King Father’s image for your [popularity], and now you have tried to use the image of your brother [Sihamoni].

Please use your own image and stand on your own,” the premier said yesterday during a birthday ceremony for Supreme Buddhist Patriarch Nuon Ngeth.

Over the weekend, Ranariddh, a former prime minister and head of the royalist Funcinpec party, claimed that leaders of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, along with himself, would meet to “share ideas on territorial issues”.

But yesterday, the Royal Palace issued a statement wholly denying the claims.

“The Royal Palace would like to announce to the public that King Norodom Sihamoni has not mentioned [this] and there is no plan to summon leaders of the three political parties for discussion about border issues,” the statement reads.

“If there are important issues for discussion by the nation, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia will consult with [Prime Minister] Hun Sen… the King makes no habit of consulting with political party [leaders].

Funcinpec spokesman Nhek Bun Chhay said the party agreed with the Royal Palace’s statement, adding that he had “no [further] comment”.