on Wednesday that the prince's sister, Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, was to write to their father King Norodom Sihanouk and ask for amnesty as agreed under a Japanese-sponsored peace plan aimed at ending factional strife in Cambodia. The prince, who has been living in Bangkok off and on since he was ousted by his Second Prime Minister Hun Sen in a bloody July 6 coup, was not available for comment. Former First Prime Minister Ranariddh was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Cambodian court on Wednesday for plotting a coup with Khmer Rouge rebels. He and several co-defendants were also ordered to pay $50 million in damages to the government as well as people and businesses which suffered losses as a result of the fighting last July. Two weeks ago he was sentenced to five years in prison on a weapons smuggling charge. Under the Japanese plan, agreed to by Ranariddh and Hun Sen, Sihanouk would grant an amnesty to the prince after his trial to clear his way for participation in an upcoming election. But political analysts said the $50 million in damages could threaten the peace process. Since the amnesty plan was hammered out, Sihanouk has said the prince -- or one of his relatives like the princess -- must request the pardon. It also had to be agreed to in writing by Hun Sen and new First Prime Minister Ung Huot. Hun Sen, who has not been seen in public as he is in mourning for his mother who died last week, was not expected to oppose the plan. Ranariddh and Hun Sen formed a power-sharing coalition after Cambodia's last election in 1993, which was organised by the United Nations. Ranariddh narrowly won the election but agreed to a coalition after Hun Sen questioned the results.