Monday, February 04, 2013

Cambodia mourns as 'King-Father' Sihanouk cremated

The crematorium site for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is seen at dusk in Phnom Penh Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital …more Monday for the cremation of Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father," who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the Southeast Asian nation for more than half a century. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Fireworks explode over the Tonle Sap River for the cremation of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital Monday for the cremation of Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father," who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the Southeast Asian nation for more than half a century. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Fireworks explode at the site of cremation for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital Monday for the cremation of Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father," who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the Southeast Asian nation for more than half a century. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, center right, son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, and his mother, Queen Norodom Monineath, center left, with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, covering his mouth, leave the crematorium where the body of the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk rests in Phnom Penh, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital Monday for the cremation of former King Norodom Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father," who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the Southeast Asian nation for more than half a century. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
By DENIS D. GRAY | Associated Press 02/04/2013

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodians bade goodbye Monday with tears, chanting and fireworks to former King Norodom Sihanouk, their revered "King-Father" who led them through half a century of political tumult that took them into the abyss of genocidal Khmer Rouge rule and back out again.

Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians thronged the capital for the elaborate royal cremation of the maddening mercurial leader whose charm often overshadowed missteps that to most of his countrymen have faded away in a fog of nostalgia for a simpler time.

Sihanouk's elaborate funeral rites — mingling Hindu, Buddhist and animist traditions — were last seen 53 years ago with the death of his father, King Norodom Suramarit. And they may never be seen again in a rapidly modernizing country where the monarchy has lost much of its power and glamor.

After sunset, Sihanouk's son King Norodom Sihamoni and widow, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, both weeping, ignited the funeral pyre inside a temple-like, 15-story-high crematorium. Howitzers fired salvos and fireworks lit up the sky when they exited about half-an-hour later.


After the cremation, Sihamoni handed out gifts to some 400 prisoners he had earlier pardoned as part of the mourning for his father, who he said was "in heaven, near the Lord Buddha, forever."

"May the much revered king support and protect the entire Kingdom of Cambodia and Cambodians forever," he said.

The cremation took place within a walled compound where 90 Buddhist monks — one for each year of Sihanouk's life as counted by Cambodians — chanted around the flower-decked, gilt coffin. Only the country's elite and foreign dignitaries were allowed inside the cremation ground, along with courtiers dressed in pantaloons and soldiers in 19th century-style uniforms with spiked helmets and swords.

Outside, Cambodians young and old gathered to honor and remember the late king.

"I would exchange my life for his if he could live because he was a great leader who brought peace, prosperity for the whole nation," said Pal Hor, an ailing, 64-year-old man who had come from the distant province of Battambang. He said he shaved his head out of reverence for the deceased monarch.

The $1.2 million crematorium, built just for this funeral, will be dismantled in keeping with Cambodian tradition.

Sihanouk's body had been lying in state since he died of a heart attack in Beijing on Oct. 15 at the age of 89.

The cremation was the climax of seven days of official mourning for Sihanouk, who was placed on the throne by the French as a teenager. Instead of proving the puppet the colonials had hoped for, Sihanouk went on to win independence, then rule the country both as monarch and head of state until ousted in a 1970 coup. Internationally, he was a leading member of the non-aligned movement and heightened his small country's profile in the world.

A charismatic figure regarded as a "God-King" by many of his subjects, a prideful Sihanouk sided with the Khmer Rouge against the U.S.-backed government, but after the victory of the ultra-communists in 1975, he and his wife were held prisoners in the palace. Five of his children died during the reign of terror.

A consummate survivor, Sihanouk emerged as a leader of an insurgency fighting a Phnom Penh government installed by the Vietnamese and went on to broker a peace accord that enabled his return to the throne in 1993. He abdicated 11 years later in favor of Sihamoni, a 59-year-old former ballet dancer who had spent most of his life in European artistic circles and has proven a low-keyed constitutional monarch overshadowed by strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sihanouk's dark side, particularly his cooperation with the Khmer Rouge and his often brutal suppression of dissent, has been publicly ignored as loudspeakers broadcast eulogies and television stations show old clips of Sihanouk's triumphs and ebullient personality.

A larger-than-life character, Sihanouk directed films, composed music and led his own jazz band and palace soccer team. His appetite extended to fast cars, food and women, marrying at least five times, some say six, and fathering 14 children.

In the coming days, some of Sihanouk's ashes will be scattered near the confluence of the four rivers in Phnom Penh, while others will be put in an urn which, according to his wishes, will be placed on the grounds of the Royal Palace near those of his favorite daughter, Kunthea Buppha, who died at the age of 3.

The funeral was attended by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prince Akishino of Japan, leaders of neighboring countries and China's Jia Qinglin, a senior government adviser and former high-ranking Politburo member.

Representing the United States was Ambassador William E. Todd. The U.S. Embassy did not directly respond to explain such a relatively low-level representation given the long U.S. involvement in Cambodia.

Many Cambodians were upset when President Barack Obama was one of the only leaders attending a regional summit here in November not to pay his respects before Sihanouk's body. The president had a reportedly tense meeting with Hun Sen at the time, with Obama pressing him on Cambodia's worsening human rights record.
___
Associated Press reporter Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh contributed to his report.

8 comments:

khmer, Love said...

Firework explode to celebrate from CPP clan, for the torn is gone forever and the young is easy to control.

Anonymous said...

Prince Norodom Ranaridth and Mr Sam Rainsy betrayed Ex king Norodom Sihanouk at 1993 after win election.

Norodom Sihanouk supposed to be Prime Minister and lead the Cambodia but Norodom Ranaridth and Sam Rainsy betrayed Norodom Sihanouk from leading the country.

Mr Sam Rainsy must remember what had you done to your country and Norodom Sihanouk at 1993 election?

If Ex king Norodom Sihanouk was a leader after 1993 election, Cambodia will not be suffered as today.

Betrayal of Norodom Sihanouk are "Norodom Ranaridth and Mr Sam Rainsy after 1993 election"
Karma of Mr Sam Rainsy and Norodom Ranariddth, they are both serving their karma.

Does Mr Sam Rainsy find justice for his supporters, yet so far? Liar! Liar! and Liar!

Anonymous said...

Cambodia is calling, let's care enough to give our very best.

For if we give our very best,

I know that we will more than pass the test.

If I could have three wishes, I'd wish that you'd live free,

I'd wish for amber waves of grain from sea to shining sea.

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue.

It's Uncle Sam Rainsy who's asking, so your mother will approve.

Tomorrow I'll be fighting, and I'll win this war for you.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.

Bullets are exploding, they'll soon be at the door,

Give something to Cambodia you never gave before.

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue,

If the President were standin' here, I'm sure he would approve.

I'll be a mighty soldier before this night is through.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.

(Spoken)

Just think about it -- it would be like as if we were doing it for the Statue of Liberty, or the Grand Canyon, or the New York Yankees... it would be like as if we were doing it for... Disneyland!

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue,

It's not a lot to ask of us, our parents will approve.

Tomorrow I'll be fighting, and I'll win this war for you.

Let's do it for our country, (spoken) we owe it to our country.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.

Anonymous said...

His majesty the King Ta Lout cannot do nothing he had to support the winner North Vietnam not the loser South Vietnam. You have to remember the South Vietnamese who occupy Khmer Krom and kept expand into Cambodian territory, South Vietnamese Thieve Ky who constantly invade Cambodia and prosecute our Khmer Krom (please look at the map made by Youn Thieve Ky). King Ta Lout did not give much financial support to North Vietnam but a little bit moral support because North will win the war and one day American will leave Vietnam and only Cambodia who live forever with Vietnam so he had to make friend rather than foe toward Vietnam in order to save our nation. King Ta Lout knew both North and South Vietnamese are the same no matter he support other side. America never ever has the true friend in the world, American support only the winner as left Lon Nol when Lon Lol need American the most for an example.

King Ta Lout policy want to be a neutral but American and Soviet did not allow that why he choose Khmer instead of American and Soviet. Khmer mean in those days must survive between those two storms.

The minority of Khmer Rough, Khmer Republican, Khmer Communist Max Lenin, Khmer Thai, Khmer Youn, Khmer all other ideology were not big issue because most of Khmer behind King Ta Lout policy anyway but King Ta knew that the country just got independent so the youth and intellectual were flourish so they want this and that they have all sort of ideas, they want to follow American model, Communist model, neutralist model, democracy model so King Ta Lout offered alternative model was neutral democracy, everyone can challenge everyone by gradually learn how to use ballot box instead of war.

King Ta Lout did not killed intellectual instead he gave so many scholarship to a lot of poor Cambodian to have better education in French, USA, German but those people ate the head of their owner anyway.

By contrast Lon Nol was uneducated, not a politician, poor health and corrupt mind, no clear policy and try to wipe out Vietnamese in three day in Cambodia instead he wipe out 500, 000 Khmer and let Pol Pot finish 2.5 million while he enjoy peaceful beach front house at Hawaii. Lon Nol regime exiled and killed his opponent too, he created Happee gangster to terrorise the population that why the regime had no support and almost forgotten and only a few opportunist that still support his regime. All infrastructure created by King Ta Lout were destroyed by Lon Nol and finish it off by Pol Pot and Hun Sen.

I knew like many other Khmer family and your family got killed by the event but it did not blind you from the true, you have to learn how accept the Karma that you created and learn how to respect 14.5 million Cambodian are mourning their King Ta Lout and they are got respect from King Ta Lout in return as well.

Anonymous said...

Denis Gray is simply a bullshit writer. What do you mean by the term Sihanouk's dark side? The Americans had good side then at the time. How many times did the Americans tried to assisinate King Sihanouk? How many times did the American forces teaming up with the South Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia? In fact the American people were so disgusted at the American invasion of Cambodia that they protested. How do you like that Denis Gary? The American good side was all about leading the coup to remove Sihanouk from power so that they could bomb Cambodia. The Americans said they were doing Cambodia a favor by ridding of the North Vietnamese, but in reality the Americans failed miserably. None of their objectives was achieved and the bombings simply cause the hundreds of thousands Cambodian lives. So talking about the American good side. In fact the Americans could not even stop the advancement of the children soldiers of the Khmer Rouge. How pathetic was that!!! Then again, the Americans died needlessly in a clash with Khmer Rouge children soldiers in the Mayaguez Incident. How mess up can that be! All the close friends of the Americans at the time were bullies towards Cambodia. The Thais invaded Cambodia and even occupied the Preah Vihear Temple area. The Vietnamese repeatedly invaded Cambodia. Both the Thais and Vietnamese invaded Cambodian Air Space repeatedly. If the Americans wanted Sihanouk so much why did they back the coup against him in the first place? Even without Sihanouk teaming up with the Khmer Rouge, the Americans and their loser Lon Nol's regime would fall into the Communists anyway. Look at the Americans and their South Vietnamese friends. At the time, the only friends of Americans were bullies and corrupt individuals. This is the legacy of the Americans. In fact the Americans are so shameful that they keep their profile very low as of now.

Anonymous said...

"If the Americans wanted Sihanouk so much why did they back the coup against him in the first place?"

12:39pm,

The way you understand is opposite from facts. The American never like Sihanuok, because Sihanuok is a communist mindset. He supported the Vietcong fighting against American & South Vietnamese govt, South Vietnam is included Kampuchea Krom too.

So why support the enemy to slaughter your own citizen, which is Khmer Kampuchea Krom? The problems for the king is: why not support the American fighting for South Vietnam instead of helping the Vietcong and expecting the broken promises from Ho Chi Minh?

Infact, Sihanuok declared to the world that Cambodia would like to remain neutral, but at the same time supporting the Vietcong, what he tries to prove in these case?

12:39pm, you need to do more research before jump to conclusion.

Anonymous said...

9:57am and 12:39pm



It's easy for you to say here than you had been through yourself, your ass should have been skin off by the Khmer rouge in the killing field such as finger nail pull out and sting by scorpio, those are the crime committed by khmer rouge your king ta lout's comrade robos ah chkuot aeng!
stop talking south or north vietnam they are all yuon and never have any good intention toward khmer.

Anonymous said...

Free from one of the abusive and corrupted leader so called King Ta, his wife and his mother in law POM sold rice and ammunition to viet cong,using general les kosem as his accomplish and made out of millions dollar at that time, can't deny the fact!

from survivor of 70-75 civil war