By Huy Vannak
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A group of politicians propose to display the statue of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk in public rather than keeping it in the royal palace.
This 4-meter high statue of the former monarch was made in 1992, and it was moved from the Funcinpec party headquarters last week, following the sale of this headquarters to a private company.
CPP MP Chiem Yeap [KI-Media: Chiem Yeap’s son-in-law is the buyer of F’pec headquarters] called on the city and the government to seek for a decent location to display this statue of the former king. “Since his majesty of the patriotic father of our nation, he is talented, and we love him, we cherish him from the bottom of our heart. If the city or the royal government has a place to set [this statue], it would be even better, it will be kept as a souvenir from now on, I think this would be good. I tell you, there is a lot of benefit for the younger generations to study well the patriotism that people accomplished for their country and people, just like the patriotic king was.”
SRP MP Son Chhay believe that the statue of King-Father should be displayed at a public worship location rather than being kept in the royal palace: “The statue of his majesty should be displayed in a decent public place so that it represents the respect and love of the people to the patriotic king. Normally, this type of statue is displayed in public, or if there is any problem in finding a place to put it, we must discuss among ourselves.”
Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, said that Funcinpec and the royal palace office agreed with each other to bring the statue of King-Father to the royal palace for safekeeping.
He said that it would be a good thing if the top national institutions agree to find a decent place to display King-Father’s statue for all future generations to pay respect to.
Nouv Sovathero said: “If we have the ability, and there is a mutual agreement among the top three institutions: the Senate, the National Assembly, and the royal government, and if there is a decent location available, it is better to display this statue in public, and it will set a location for Cambodians who love the king, to come and pay respect to him.”
Along with the recall of the achievements of the patriotic king, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said the former monarch is an important symbol for the Cambodian population, “His Majesty the patriotic king is an extraordinary king in the development of the country, in the preservation of the national reconciliation, and he is an important symbol for all the Cambodian people. Therefore, this statue should be displayed in a worship place where his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren can pay respect to.”
All the MPs propose that Cambodia should educate the younger Cambodian generations about the culture of respect to the symbolism and the achievements of past leaders.
This 4-meter high statue of the former monarch was made in 1992, and it was moved from the Funcinpec party headquarters last week, following the sale of this headquarters to a private company.
CPP MP Chiem Yeap [KI-Media: Chiem Yeap’s son-in-law is the buyer of F’pec headquarters] called on the city and the government to seek for a decent location to display this statue of the former king. “Since his majesty of the patriotic father of our nation, he is talented, and we love him, we cherish him from the bottom of our heart. If the city or the royal government has a place to set [this statue], it would be even better, it will be kept as a souvenir from now on, I think this would be good. I tell you, there is a lot of benefit for the younger generations to study well the patriotism that people accomplished for their country and people, just like the patriotic king was.”
SRP MP Son Chhay believe that the statue of King-Father should be displayed at a public worship location rather than being kept in the royal palace: “The statue of his majesty should be displayed in a decent public place so that it represents the respect and love of the people to the patriotic king. Normally, this type of statue is displayed in public, or if there is any problem in finding a place to put it, we must discuss among ourselves.”
Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, said that Funcinpec and the royal palace office agreed with each other to bring the statue of King-Father to the royal palace for safekeeping.
He said that it would be a good thing if the top national institutions agree to find a decent place to display King-Father’s statue for all future generations to pay respect to.
Nouv Sovathero said: “If we have the ability, and there is a mutual agreement among the top three institutions: the Senate, the National Assembly, and the royal government, and if there is a decent location available, it is better to display this statue in public, and it will set a location for Cambodians who love the king, to come and pay respect to him.”
Along with the recall of the achievements of the patriotic king, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said the former monarch is an important symbol for the Cambodian population, “His Majesty the patriotic king is an extraordinary king in the development of the country, in the preservation of the national reconciliation, and he is an important symbol for all the Cambodian people. Therefore, this statue should be displayed in a worship place where his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren can pay respect to.”
All the MPs propose that Cambodia should educate the younger Cambodian generations about the culture of respect to the symbolism and the achievements of past leaders.
