Phnom Penh (dpa) - Cambodians began two days of official holidays Monday to celebrate the third anniversary of King Norodom Sihamoni's ascension to the throne, while the king marked the occasion in typically modest and devout style.
Sihamoni, who succeeded his father, Norodom Sihanouk, 84, who abdicated in 2004 citing age and ill health, marked the anniversary with a private Buddhist and Brahmanist ceremony at the palace attended by the nation's highest monks, his cabinet and family, according to the palace.
He was scheduled to spend the afternoon donating rice and other gifts to the poor, a palace source said by telephone.
Ordinary Cambodians still revere the royal family as living gods, and Sihamoni also serves as the country's head of state and the leader of Buddhism in the country - the religion of 95 per cent of the population. Cambodian law places him as a king who "reigns but does not rule." The monarch quickly won popularity from all political parties for his dignified air, his devotion to religious matters and his reluctance to become involved in the country's turbulent political scene.
Born in the capital in 1953 to Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monireath, Sihamoni was held prisoner in the royal palace by the Khmer Rouge during its 1975-79 regime and was forced to flee the capital with his father and mother when the genocidal ultra-Maoists were overthrown by Vietnamese-backed troops.
He later studied in Czechoslovakia for many years, becoming fluent in Czech, and was an acclaimed classical dancer before becoming Cambodia's cultural ambassador to UNESCO prior to ascending the throne.
Sihamoni, who succeeded his father, Norodom Sihanouk, 84, who abdicated in 2004 citing age and ill health, marked the anniversary with a private Buddhist and Brahmanist ceremony at the palace attended by the nation's highest monks, his cabinet and family, according to the palace.
He was scheduled to spend the afternoon donating rice and other gifts to the poor, a palace source said by telephone.
Ordinary Cambodians still revere the royal family as living gods, and Sihamoni also serves as the country's head of state and the leader of Buddhism in the country - the religion of 95 per cent of the population. Cambodian law places him as a king who "reigns but does not rule." The monarch quickly won popularity from all political parties for his dignified air, his devotion to religious matters and his reluctance to become involved in the country's turbulent political scene.
Born in the capital in 1953 to Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monireath, Sihamoni was held prisoner in the royal palace by the Khmer Rouge during its 1975-79 regime and was forced to flee the capital with his father and mother when the genocidal ultra-Maoists were overthrown by Vietnamese-backed troops.
He later studied in Czechoslovakia for many years, becoming fluent in Czech, and was an acclaimed classical dancer before becoming Cambodia's cultural ambassador to UNESCO prior to ascending the throne.
10 comments:
What do you celebrate. Tell us about your achievements in past 3 years. What have you done good for Cambodians?
I feel sorry for head of a country suck Cambodian blood.
Gentleman
When you start to believe king is god, youy start to become out of touch with reality.
Jayavaraman VII became God king because there were so much he did to his country, for his people.He become involved on day to day basis activities, " the king met with his obreach(ministers) one in the morning and again in the afternoon", quoted Jiv Ta Kwan, the observer from China.
He became God king because of his courage and wisdom,served his country.Cambodia should set a date to celebrate and dedicate to his very fine exemple instead.
Where are we now?.Cambodia has been influenced by neigbhouring country.We are kidding ourselve. There are so many celeberations of the corrupted social elites in cambodia, is he the king of those who have enjoyed free ride in cambodia.Providing cambodians opportunity and supports is our king roles(stipulates in articles 8 and 9 in constitution).
The very down to earth, poor cambodians are still struggling for their basic needs.Giving rice and clothing is not cambodian tradition.May be the king can leave this job to the monk/temple so that the monk can have a role in our society.Therefore relationship between the monk and villagers is strenghtened.
You are quite right 4.18AM.
Neang SA
5:19, do you really have that much faith in our ancient history about Jayavaraman VII?
Somehow I am very skeptical that Jayavaraman VII being the sole Khmer God King among other King.
King of the Monkeys ????
He is just an ignorant robot.
What do you expect? He's a westerner trained king. At least, we have great Khmer people to look out after him.
King of the YUON arse-licker!
It is the duty of the King to do the following!
1. King must be loved by all his people including all political parties which mean he must be neutral and be able to unite his people and all the political parties in time of internal crisis or in time of external great danger!
2. King must protect his Kingdom!
3. King must protect his people!
If our Khmer King can perform the following duty, the peace, the stability, and the prosperity will flourish in Cambodia for many more generation to come and his name will live forever!
9:15, I think we're in trouble. I don't think our king can fully meet with your number 1 proposal.
As for number 2, forget about it. How will he protect his Kingdom without a Nuke?
And for number 3, so far he has only granted pardon to politicians, but not to poor Khmer people who was trapped in the spot here and there.
Therefore, what should we do about this?
To 9:32AM!
Regarding #1(King must united his people and all political parties)
The very reason why our King can't unite his people and all the political parties because he is a King who belong to political party!
The CPP put this King in power and so the CPP has all the power to kill, to steal, and to lie to Khmer people!
Number#2(the King must protect his Kingdom) The King doesn't need Nuke to protect his Kingdom! What the King needs is a good powerful friends and allies to deter any foreign aggression and find way to rearm his Kingdom!
Number#3(the King must protect his people) Again the reason why this King can't protect him people because he belong to a political party!
Please let not fool ourselves and the fact is King Xihamoni is not even a King and it doesn't matter what fake Khmer constitution enshrine about the Khmer King! Because if the Khmer King can't even performs the following three proposals and he is finished as Khmer King! He is just another fool who is pretending to sit on the throne quietly enjoy all the good and luxury of life while dirt poor Khmer people and the nation continue to suffer!
Remember! Hun Sen said that he has no right to be King but he has the right to create King! Since HUN SEN is the creator of Khmer King and all the power and respect must be given to HUN SEN alone and no one else! And that is why he demanded that he must stay in power until the day he dies because he is the real Khmer King!
So I say overthrow the creator to solve the problem!
12:50, just give it to me straight. Stop running around the bushes. Do you approve of HM Sihamoni or not. If not, why? and also are you proposing Cambodia to be kingless or you want to choose another king ...
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