Former King Norodom Sihanouk (Photo AFP)May 31, 2006
Phnom Penh (dpa) - Former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk says he is proud to live on a government pension and his modest life is testimony to the fact that he never indulged in corruption.
In a Buddhist ceremony held at his palace to celebrate the inauguration of a new school in Prey Veng - one of Cambodia's poorest provinces - and screened on national television late Tuesday night, the 83-year-old told local villagers he was grateful for a government pension which he said provided the means for supporting his old and loyal staff and carrying out his charity work.
'I am proud to have a pension ... because I do not own my own property. I was never corrupt. I never took bribes, nor did anything to contradict justice,' the former king said. 'I have always avoided corruption.'
Royal observers said Sihanouk's statements were probably a veiled reference to recent scandals which have seen a royalist Funcinpec minister sacked after allegations of corruption and World Bank grants worth more than 64 million dollars suspended pending investigations into allegations of graft.
Although the aging Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his son, Norodom Sihamoni, in October 2004 citing his age and ill health and says he has stepped away from the public limelight, he retains the enormous respect of many ordinary Cambodians.
Sihanouk also reiterated comments he made last week that his 'serious health problems' which forced him to seek medical treatment in China last year including chemotherapy, were behind him.
The mercurial former monarch, who has suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and, most recently, a relapse of colon cancer, returned from Beijing last Friday but is expected to return there for further medical tests within months, according to a palace spokesman.
In a Buddhist ceremony held at his palace to celebrate the inauguration of a new school in Prey Veng - one of Cambodia's poorest provinces - and screened on national television late Tuesday night, the 83-year-old told local villagers he was grateful for a government pension which he said provided the means for supporting his old and loyal staff and carrying out his charity work.
'I am proud to have a pension ... because I do not own my own property. I was never corrupt. I never took bribes, nor did anything to contradict justice,' the former king said. 'I have always avoided corruption.'
Royal observers said Sihanouk's statements were probably a veiled reference to recent scandals which have seen a royalist Funcinpec minister sacked after allegations of corruption and World Bank grants worth more than 64 million dollars suspended pending investigations into allegations of graft.
Although the aging Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his son, Norodom Sihamoni, in October 2004 citing his age and ill health and says he has stepped away from the public limelight, he retains the enormous respect of many ordinary Cambodians.
Sihanouk also reiterated comments he made last week that his 'serious health problems' which forced him to seek medical treatment in China last year including chemotherapy, were behind him.
The mercurial former monarch, who has suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and, most recently, a relapse of colon cancer, returned from Beijing last Friday but is expected to return there for further medical tests within months, according to a palace spokesman.
6 comments:
King Father!
It's your last time.
You will be really the OBJECT of Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
Neither China will protect you nor Cambodian People can defend you!!
because you are :
- the accomplice with Youns during the Vietnam civil war to kill Cambodia farmers along the frontier
- the maker of Wars in Cambodia during 1970-1975
- the maker of killing 2 milion Cambodian People during 1975-1979
- the person who delivered Cambodia land to vietnamese during your power
Dear Sihanous,
The poor and honest khmers who are starving to death must have the compassion for your miserable life, musn't-they! dirty hypocrite
Those who were SOMEBODY during the Sangkum Era ( 1960 - 70 ) knew all about how CORRUPTION prevailed in CHAMCAR MON. The King was clean but by the backdoor Madame POM Peang, his MOTHER-IN-LAW , overtly exacted bribes for everything : appointments, assingments, promotions and even settlements of disputes amongst competitors for faveur of the King . The monies in the bank accounts nver in his name but he can spend it freely.He would never need a pension from the State.
The meager pension he said he enjoyed can not cover 3 days of his spending spree for making films., for sending unsolicited DVD to his sycophants admirers, for organizing parties for free admission.Those sycophants clapped their hands to ease their boredom but he think they applauded him.
The sycophants say that his many films are of world class. But its never went under the eyes of professional critics. Never reached any box office, never received a cent of incomes.
old fool!
stupid,, how can he get pension?..what did he do beside destroyed khmerlands and killed khmers? no brainers!..eeyore!
Sihanouk is NOTHING but a big fat lie phony! and Hun Sen is NOTHING but a fat youn dick sucker!
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