Ex-king Sihanouk returns to Cambodia

Cambodia's ailing ex-King Norodom Sihanouk (left) and his son King Norodom Sihamoni alight at Phnom Penh airport (AFP, Khem Sovannara)

Thursday, October 27, 2011
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia's ailing former king Norodom Sihanouk returned home on Thursday from Beijing where he spent nearly three months receiving medical treatment.

Sihanouk and his wife, accompanied by their son King Norodom Sihamoni, were given a red-carpet welcome by family members, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport.

A smiling Sihanouk, who will turn 89 on October 31, pressed his hands together in a traditional greeting to well-wishers before getting into a car that whisked him off to the royal palace.

Chea Sim returns from his kowtow visit to the Middle Kingdom

Cambodian Senate president returns home from China visit

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim arrived here on Friday after paying an official visit to China.

Chea Sim was welcomed by some Cambodian senior officials and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

At the invitation of Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chea Sim left Cambodia Monday for China to pay a five-day visit.

During his stay in China, Chea Sim respectively met with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Jia Qinglin on Tuesday.

The Kingmaker greets the arrival of the King from China

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) listen to Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (L) as they walk to greet the arrival of King Norodom Sihamoni from Beijing at Phnom Penh international airport on August 15, 2008 . REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni (R) is greeted by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen upon arrival from Beijing at Phnom Penh international airport August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian King returns home from China

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni returned home Friday from China, where he had attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Cambodian government officials and royal family members welcomed King Sihamoni at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

Sihamoni, along with former King Norodom Sihanouk and former Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, left for Beijing on Aug. 1 for the Olympic Games.

During his stay in China, Sihamoni met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Aug. 11.

King Father to Return for New Year

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 March 2008

Former king Norodom Sihanouk will return from medical treatment in Beijing ahead of the new year, officials said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Tuesday morning during a Phnom Penh bridge inauguration the former king and queen would "enjoy Khmer New Year with their children and grandchildren in Cambodia."

Sihanouk will arrive April 7 and stay throughout the elections, according to a royal family member who asked not to be named.

Sihanouk, 85, often travels to Beijing for medical treatment and has been there since the end of November 2007.

King Sihamoni returns home

12 December 2007
By Mayarith Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

King Norodom Sihamoni returned back from Beijing on Wednesday, after accompanying his parents there for the past two weeks.

The following is a report by RFA’s Mondul Keo regarding the king’s return, based on questions asked by RFA’s Mayarith.

Mayarith: His Majesty the King of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni, returned back to Cambodia this afternoon, is there anything different during the greeting for his return?

Mondul Keo: During the king’s return, we observe the presence of only 3 high-ranking CPP members: Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin, as well as 2-3 CPP vice-prime ministers. Keo Puth Reasmei, the Funcinpec vice-prime minister and party president, also went to greet the king at the Phnom Penh International airport also.

Mayarith: Was there any other political party leaders present during that time?

Mondul Keo: At the king’s departure, we saw leaders from the three political parties present, however, at the (King’s) return, we observe the presence of two major political party leaders only: the CPP and Funcinpec. Its top leaders came to greet the king at his return home. We did not see the presence of the opposition leader during the King’s return.

After he got off the place, he (Sihamoni) happily shook the hands of all these leaders, but he did not provide any interview to the local and international reporters who went to greet him. He did not give any interview to RFA either.

Mayarith: Was there any declaration issued by officials at the Royal Palace?

Mondul Keo: I met with H.E. Oum Daravuth, an official from the royal palace cabinet, he said that he is not giving out interviews to reporters yet, because he did not receive any information about the health condition of King-Father and Queen-Mother yet.

He said that even for the health condition of the king himself, he did not ask about it yet because when the king got off the place, he was busy being greeted by the top political leaders in the country, he did not talk to the king yet.

Former King Hopes to Return Before Elections, Official Says

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
07 December 2007

Former King Norodom Sihanouk hopes to return to Cambodia ahead of national elections next year, a Royal Palace representative said Friday, following concerns of political instability in the absence of the former monarch.

However, Oum Daravuth, a member of the royal cabinet, said Sihanouk's return depended on his doctors in Beijing, where he is undergoing medical checkups.

The king hoped to continue to be an "umbrella" for the people, Oum Daravuth said.

King Norodom Sihamoni, who accompanied Sihanouk to the Beijing, will return to Cambodia Dec. 12, Oum Daravuth said.

Many Cambodians consider the presence of royalty during potentially turbulent political times a positive sign.

Oum Daravuth also sought Friday to quell rumors Sihanouk would try to form his own political party ahead of national parliamentary elections, scheduled for July 2008.

The former monarch has repeatedly denied such rumors, Oum Daravuth said.