Birthday celebration for the former monarch

31 October 2007
By San Suwith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The 31st of October is the birthday of the former monarch, King Norodom Sihanouk, who is reaching 86-year-old.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, the adopted son of King-Father, said that, at the royal palace, there was no major celebration: “There was no special program, there was only Buddhist prayers held for him this morning under his presence, then at 11:00 AM, there was a banquet for officials working at the royal palace and at his office. There was nothing.”

Prince Thomico indicated that the reason there was no major celebration, because it was King-Father’s personal wish: “He wrote several letters already, saying that during his birthday, during the New Year and the Cambodian New Year, he asked not to send any letters or gifts to him. Therefore, this is according to his wish which he decided long time ago.”

Cambodian King father Sihanouk celebrates his 85th birthday

Wed, 31 Oct 2007
DPA

"Time will inevitably uncover dishonesty and lies; history has no place for them" - Norodom Sihanouk

Phnom Penh - It was a low-key celebration in Cambodia Wednesday for the 85th birthday of former king Norodom Sihanouk, who continues to defy his age and health setbacks and remains an icon and an enigma of history. Sihanouk had repeated his pleas of previous years for people not to send gifts and flowers. Indeed, the focus of the week was on the anniversary of the rise to the throne of his son, King Norodom Sihamoni.

The man for whom the adjective mercurial is no cliche abdicated the throne for his son in October 2004 citing age and ill health.

But despite making many less public appearances as he gets older, Sihanouk, still revered as a living god by many Cambodians, is never far from the public eye or its thoughts.

Sihanouk's versatile career has included two periods as king, a long period as sovereign prince when he turned to politics and abdicated in favour of his father, Norodom Suramarit in 1955, just two years after Cambodia gained independence from France. Many credit him as the architect of independence.

His 1955-1970 Sankum Reastr Niyum regime, although authoritarian, is also remembered by many as a golden era in Cambodian architecture and the arts, and a time when the world's stars such as French beauty Catherine Deneuve flocked to the country.

A survivor of a US-backed coup by Lon Nol in 1970 which sent him into exile and, after his return, imprisonment by the Khmer Rouge inside his own palace until 1979 when he fled to China, Sihanouk has seen the best and worst of times of Cambodia.

Despite his age, in recent years he has been called the father of Cambodia's budding blogging scene for his outspoken website, and even critics admit Sihanouk has left an indelible mark on the country's history.

In recent years he has struggled with diabetes and beaten colon cancer twice, but upon his return to the country this year after months in China undergoing treatment the octogenarian royal was described as "spritely as ever" by waiting dignitaries.

Sihanouk was expected to spend his birthday quietly with his family and donating gifts to the poor, according to a palace source.

Although often criticized over his handling of foreign policy in the years leading up to the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime which left up to 2 million Cambodians, including much of his own family, dead, Sihanouk has remained unbowed.

"Time will inevitably uncover dishonesty and lies; history has no place for them," he was once quoted as saying.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk

Cambodia's 'demoralised' ex-king celebrates quiet birthday

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — A seemingly despondent Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia's former monarch, quietly passed his 85th birthday Wednesday amid muted public celebrations, the palace said.

Saying that Sihanouk was "very elderly, very weak, very demoralised," the palace said in a statement that the former king, once known for his vibrant public persona, was increasingly disturbed by "unnecessary" emails, telegrams and faxes from well-wishers.

In a separate statement, the palace pleaded with supporters "to not call on him, to not dispatch to him messages of greetings and congratulations, even on the occasion of his birthday."

Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh was decorated with only one large portrait of Sihanouk, who grandfatherly visage used to be commonplace throughout the city.

Palace officials said Wednesday he had marked his birthday with a low-key Buddhist ceremony, accompanied by family and monks.

Sihanouk, who suffers from a number of serious illnesses, including cancer, is expected to travel to China for medical check-ups during this year's Water Festival, one of the country's largest holidays which begins next month.

Sihanouk, one of Asia's longest-serving monarchs, abruptly quit the throne in October 2004 in favor of his elder son, Norodom Sihamoni, citing old age and health problems.

Despite giving up his role as king, he remains a popular figure, particularly among rural Cambodians.

Political Cartoon: Sacrava's Gift

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)