At the funeral procession of King Sihanouk, Phnom Penh
At the funeral procession of King Sihanouk, Phnom Penh
Armed presence at funeral procession of King Sihanouk,
Phnom Penh
Armed presence at the funeral procession of King Sihanouk,
Phnom Penh
Video #1 - Waiting for the funeral procession at the
Independence Monument, Phnom Penh
THE EMPTY STREETS were lined with more then a half million people. Citizens from all over the country, were gathering to mourn the passing of their beloved monarch. The reverence for the deceased King Sihanouk was palpable – crowds quietly lined Norodom Boulevard into the far distance. On this historic February 1, Cambodians were expressing their sorrow for the passing of their King Father, as he was called. This was really the end of an era.
My friend Chhonn and i were not far from the Vimean Akareach or Independance Monument. It was only 9 am so the procession was not expected till midday. We retreated to the shade of a nearby cafe and whiled away the time chatting over coffee. Once again, my friend was educating me on the complexities of modern Cambodian politics. We stayed relatively cool here as the morning drifted by. With noon approaching, the excitement began to mount – then Sihanouk's elaborate cortege came into view. It was a magnificent and solemn display of pomp and pageantry. From the back of the crowd, we watched the groups of official guests, from monks to the military, on foot and in floats, parading by. Near the front of the procession was Prime Minister Hun Sen himself, a most controversial leader. The former Khmer Rouge field commander had been ruling Cambodia for decades. He was more of a strongman then a PM, and even here it was said that he managed this very public event, to enhance his own image (see link below). With the charismatic King Sihanouk, out of the way, Hun Sen could gain even more limelight.
King Sihanouk first assumed the role of monarch when he was only 19. His appointment in 1941, was actually orchestrated by the colonial administration, which was part of the Vichy government of the time. They French thought the young Cambodian would be easy to manipulate. Instead King Sihanouk turned out to be the architect for an independent Cambodia, making it the first of the three French colonies in the region, to eventually gain freedom. His influence, which spanned six decades, waxed and waned but never disappeared. Not only did he lead the Nation to independence but was a witness to the blood civil wars too. During his exile to Beijing and under the Khmer Rouge period, he had only limited influence. Perhaps the 1950s and 1960s reflected best on his achievement, marked by political stability and economic development. In this period, Cambodia's gained pride and self-respect, through major constitutional reforms and economic progress. Many of King Sihanouk's sweeping changes also improved the lot of Cambodian society as a whole. For this reason too, he was remembered with particular fondness by the older generation.
News coverage from the BBC:
News coverage from the Al Jazeera:
Huge crowds mourn Cambodia's former king - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera EnglishA wikipedia overview of King Sihanouk:
Norodom Sihanouk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prime minister Hun Sen used the event to enhance his own image:
'Miracle' cremation: PM Hun Sen | National | National
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