Friday, 26 October 2012
Princes Soma Norodom
The Phnom Penh Post
Critics have stated that Prime Minister Hun Sen and the government control the political arena and the monarchy, and will continue to do so as long as he is in power.
The future of the country’s royal institution has been in the minds of Cambodians as they mourn the loss of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk. Not only has this topic been addressed by the locals, but by the international forum.
I have been asked about the future of the monarchy by several international media outlets including CNN, AsianAffairs.com and the German press agency.
As a journalist, in a country with little freedom of the press, it’s a skill to disseminate the facts without jeopardizing your career.
During the memorial ceremony for His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk on October 17, 2012, I witnessed that unity was weak among the Royal Family members and a division within the current government.
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni has no power and is only a figurehead and the government is the new ruler of the country.
It was apparent at the memorial ceremony when some members of the Royal Family could not get inside the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace to pay their respects to their beloved family member, the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
The Throne Hall was overcrowded by government officials, delegates and VIPs from Asian countries.
I felt like I was at an ASEAN Summit Meeting instead of at a memorial service for a beloved family member.
Critics have stated that Prime Minister Hun Sen and the government control the political arena and the monarchy, and will continue to do so as long as he is in power.
The government has considerable say about who becomes the next king.
The nine-member Throne Council includes the Prime Minister and top officials from the National Assembly and Senate, all from the same ruling party.
The future of the monarchy is in their hands.
The Cambodian Royal Family has no power and is not wealthy, unlike the royal families in Thailand and England.
The lack of a successor to the current king, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, is a concern to some royalists and supporters.
Some believe the monarchy will slowly fade away.
I witnessed the division among my own Royal Family members on the first day of the memorial ceremony for His Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
We were all there to mourn the loss of the King Father, but some of my Royal Family members didn’t even speak with each other.
I hardly attend Royal Family functions as I have work obligations to financially take care of my father, but I want to unite our family.
If we can’t get along with our own family, what makes us think we can bring peace to the country?
“United we stand, divided we fall” is a famous motto from the United States which suggests that when we are united we cannot be defeated, but when you are alone you can be defeated.
With the current ruling party domination, and the division among Royal Family members, the future of the monarchy looks dim. Fear can only grow in darkness. Once you face fear with light, you win.
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The Social Agenda with Soma Norodom
The views expressed above are solely the author’s and do not reflect any positions taken by The Phnom Penh Post.
9 comments:
I share totally Soma Norodom analysis, I think that current Cambodian monarchy is fading and we are waiting for the new King to replace King Sihamoni who will leave to Paris with his mom. This new King who is one of the family members of Hun dynasty will reign with power and style. Long live Preah Karuna Hun...? Vow, sound strange, no?
It is absolutely right that the throne is in the hand of the ruling party. The palace has chosen the easy way to exist by associating and following the guide of the government instead of playing role as the respected institution for its all people.
It seems that after the death of the king father, the attention has been paid to the existence of the throne and royal families rather than the lose of territories and the future of the people.
Hun Sen promised to the body of the king father that he would protech the monarchy, queen, king, and throne, but he did not promise to follow the king fater's footstep to protect territories from foreign invasion.
So I feel that monarchy and throne is much safer than the country and people.
Princess Soma is so right. Among the royal family members there are many want to be King and queen, and one of them is Rannaridh and his downfall woman Phalla Ouk. Rannaridh is now doing everything that woman tells him.
Hi 10:58 PM please understand that Yuon are behind instructing Hun Sen that the new treaty Yuon designed for Hun Sen to follow including the land sold to Yuon must be signed by the King, and keeping the monarchy as their prisoners is very useful to them.
Hun Sen is nothing based on 100% Yuon fake Khmers told me, Hun Sen is the lowest class of human ever exists.
I agree and disagree. These royals who claims they have no real power is because they choose to do so. They choose the royal title because they know they will get a fix income from the government which entitle them. So in the end life is too good for them to give it up. They are short sighted and mentally weak.
reply to 12:59 AM
I agree with you 100 percents. why would these loser king want to give up the good salary from the government. They don't want to go back and dig the ditches.
all they care for is the stutus as being a dummy king. it does not matter how screw up the country is. Sihanouk bloodline is a loser and a murder.
reply to princes Soma Norodom:
did you used to support a bunch of Cambodian gangsters (Cambodia Exile?) and you did want them to come back to America so they can terrorize the Cambodian neighborhoods in USA?
You are right Hun Sin control the dummy ugly looking King. I said it again, I don't like the Hun Sin government, but I think he is alot better than the Noro-Dumb family.
Soma Norodom can you tell your family the dancing major to go back to Eastern European country. Please tell your families to read KI. A lot of Ki followers hate him and his families.
In Cambodia, the farmers don't know any better and they pretend to worship the stupid Ex-king. In reality they came for the food only.
Thank you prince Soma Noro-dumb
3.29 am
Not all KI readers hate monarchy and you should not speak for everyone's behalf but only for yourself. You are full of anger against king seihakmoni. What have you done for Cambodia lately?
Reply to 1:04 PM
You are right. Not all Cambodians hate Monarchy Dumb Sihamony. However "most" Cambdoains on KI hate this dumb screw ball and his families.
You still don't know why people hate his families.
I have done alot for Cambodian Society, even though, that country where I was born, only gave me and families pain and suffering.
Good prosper societies don't need King and queen. It calls "democracy".
My question back to you, What have you done for Cambodia lately?
9:14pm, Soma is also Khmer like you but you seem to relish poking fun of her last name.
To be fair, you could tell us your last name so that we find faults or mistakes that your family lines have made.
Let's say you are Pol Pot's relative, should we blame you too?
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