Retired King Flies to Beijing for Check-Up [-Chinese doctors to find all the illnesses of Cambodia's monarchy?]

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
03 September 2009

Former king Norodom Sihanouk left for Beijing Thursday, for routine medical check-ups to prevent a resurgence of cancer, according to a royal announcement.

King Norodom Sihamoni, who took the throne when his influential father abdicated in 2004, is accompanying the former monarch and former queen Monineath and will receive medical check-ups, as well.

Sihanouk is 86 and has suffered from various forms of cancer since 1993. He defeated a second round of the disease in 2005, and in June announced he had beat a third. He has undergone treatment for B-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the blood cells and the immune system.

His condition requires quarterly check-ups, and he only returned to Cambodian in July. He left the country from Siem Reap, with a departure that so “no problem at all,” said Um Daravuth, a royal cabinet member.

“He doesn’t have any more problems with cancer, but the Chinese doctors are wary he could undergo a fourth cancer, because the space of time where he had cancer between 1993 and 2009 became shorter and shorter,” Um Daravuth said.

The former king, who is revered among many Cambodians, continues to have treatment for “prevention,” Um Daravuth said.

According to a royal statement, Sihanouk is expected to return in February 2010.

Goodbye Siem Reap ... Hello Beijing!

Cambodian former King leaves for China for medical checkup

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Retired King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk left Siem Reap on Thursday for Chinese capital Beijing for a routine medical checkup.

King Norodom Sihamoni accompanied his parents to Beijing for his father's medical appointment and will return in two weeks, according to a member of the royal family. The King left Phnom Penh on earlier morning to meet his parents in Siem Reap.

The King was seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by high-ranking government officials and members of royal family, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany flew with King Norodom Sihamoni from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap to see former King and Queen off.

King-Father and Queen-Mother have stayed at their royal residence in Siem Reap province for nearly two months after they returned from Beijing on July 9.

During their stay, the former monarchs granted royal audiences to officials and gave donation to poor people.

They also attended the royal donation ceremony to the 289 poor families of Siem Reap province, which was held on Aug. 29 and organized by the Cambodian Red Cross, according to a earlier press release of the Ministry of Royal Palace.

According to the Constitution of the Kingdom, at the absence of the King, President of the Senate Chea Sim will assume the duty as acting Head of State.

Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk arrives home from China

PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Queen Monineath Sihanouk arrived home Thursday afternoon after they had spent almost a year in China for medical treatment.

Soon after arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, the former King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife proceeded straight to his royal residence in Siem Reap town where he will stay for a while.

Norodom Sihanouk and his wife left for China on August 1, 2008 and he had stayed there for medical treatment as advised by his Chinese doctors.

The ex-King Norodom Sihanouk, 86, has said that he had suffered a number of illnesses including diabetes and cancer.

But two weeks ago, he said he has recovered from his third cancer of its kind after treatment by his Chinese doctors.

On June 27, Sihanouk issued a statement saying his doctors had informed him of being able to return home, but suggested him to fly back to China in September and stay in China at least until the end of the year.

Welcoming the former King's arrival were his son King Norodom Sihamoni, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol, the country's police chief Neth Saveoun, royal family members and other government officials.

Retired king returns to Cambodia for two-month visit

Thu, 09 Jul 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's retired king Norodom Sihanouk returned to his homeland for a two-month visit Thursday after spending almost a year in Beijing receiving treatment for cancer. The 86-year-old king-father and Queen-Mother Monique landed at Siem Reap International Airport about 3 pm and immediately traveled to a royal residence in the northern town.

Sihanouk last month announced he would return to Cambodia for two months after being successfully treated in Beijing for B-cell lymphoma, which attacks blood cells crucial to the body's immune system.

It was his third bout of cancer since 1993.

But Sihanouk said at the time he would have to return to Beijing after two months to continue his medical treatment.

Sihanouk abdicated and was replaced by his son Norodom Sihamoni in 2004, but he remains an influential figure in Cambodian politics.

He was appointed king by Cambodia's French rulers in 1941, but in 1955 Sihanouk abandoned the throne to become prime minister.

After being overthrown in a military coup in 1970, Sihanouk sided with the Maoist Khmer Rouge, who came to power in 1975 and oversaw the deaths of up to 2 million people until Vietnam invaded in 1979.

He was forced out of office again and remained virtually imprisoned in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh during most of the Khmer Rouge's rule.

Sihanouk returned to the throne in 1993, but frequently traveled to Beijing for treatment for a range of illnesses.

Beijing-based former king on tourist visit to his kingdoom? Bravo!?!?

Former King To Return Home For Visit

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
08 July 2009

Former king Norodom Sihanouk, who said last month he beat a third round of cancer, will be allowed to visit Cambodia for two months, before returning to China, according to his Web site.

Sihanouk, 86, has been undergoing treatment in Beijing for B-cell lymphoma, a cancer that hits the blood cells of the immune system, Agence France-Presse reported in June.

His doctors will allow him to stay in Cambodia for two months, after which he will return to China, according to a letter on the former king’s Web site.

After a two-month sojourn in their Siem Reap palace, the former king and queen will travel back to China, along with King Norodom Sihamoni, who will also received a medical check-up, the letter, hand-written in French, said.

Sihanouk was a key player for decades in Cambodian politics, and is sometimes referred to as “father of the nation.” He abdicated in 2004, giving his throne to Sihamoni.

King-Father is not returning to Cambodia, he'll come back just to visit: DPA

Former Cambodian king to return to homeland for visit in July

Tue, 30 Jun 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk will return to his homeland for a two-month visit after being successfully treated for cancer in Beijing, according to a handwritten message on his personal website. The 86-year-old retired monarch said he would return to Cambodia in July to stay at a royal residence in the northern city of Siem Reap.

"Between July 9 and September 2009 I shall have the honor and the joy to live in Cambodia among my beloved relatives," he said.

But Sihanouk said he would have to return to Beijing after two months to continue his medical treatment.

He announced last week that he had beaten a third bout of cancer after his Chinese doctors successfully treated him for B-cell lymphoma, which attacks blood cells crucial to the body's immune system.

Sihanouk abdicated and was replaced by his son Norodom Sihamoni in 2004, but the king-father remains an important figure in Cambodian politics.

He was appointed king by Cambodia's French rulers in 1941, but in 1955 Sihanouk abandoned the throne to become prime minister.

After being overthrown in a military coup in 1970, Sihanouk sided with the Maoist Khmer Rouge, who came to power in 1975 and oversaw the deaths of up to 2 million people until Vietnam invaded in 1979.

He was forced out of office again and remained virtually imprisoned in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh during most of the Khmer Rouge's rule.

Sihanouk returned to the throne in 1993, but frequently traveled to Beijing for treatment for a range of illnesses.

He’s baaaaack!

King-Father to return from Beijing on 09 July

28 June 2009
By San Suwidh
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Yesterday, Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk, the former Khmer monarch, issued a communiqué to his compatriots, indicating that between 09 July and 02 September 2009, he will stay in Cambodia with his beloved “kaun-chao” [children and grandchildren].

However, in September, October, November and December, Chinese doctors asked him to return back for cancer treatment in Beijing one more time. This medical visit is to prevent his cancer from re-occurring.

The never ending tit-for-tat saga between King-Father and his critics: Thank Buddha, none of them has access to Intercontinental Ballistic Missile!

Translated from French by Tola Ek

“A Khmer Woman from France
Gives me a lesson about Patriotism,”
By Norodom Sihanouk

Beijing, P.R. of China, 17 April 2009

Yesterday, a letter from France came to me from a Khmer woman in France (who wrote in appalling French). Among other things, this Cambodian woman in France reproached me for staying in China rather than returning to Cambodia.

In “response,” I sent to this Khmer woman in France copies of my communiqués and messages sent successively to my beloved compatriots about my 3rd cancer (lymphoma B), the treatment of which requires several months at the Beijing State Central Hospital (P.R. of China).

My Compatriots from Cambodia perfectly understand the necessity for me to stay several months still in Beijing. They pray for my cure.

The fact this Khmer woman in France is reproaching me for staying in China, whereas she remains (all her life) in France, is laughable.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

39 years later, ghost of the Lon Nol regime still haunts those who hated it

King Father Sihanouk, shown here in a file photo, will not be back in Cambodia for another couple of months. (Photo by: AFP)

Sihanouk to stay in Beijing for further cancer treatment

Monday, 23 March 2009
Written by Neth Pheaktra
The Phnom Penh Post

Frail King Father sets no deadline for his return to Cambodia

KING Father Norodom Sihanouk has said he will remain in Beijing for several months more in order to continue receiving medical treatment. Sihanouk, who is 87, was last in Cambodia in August 2008 and has not fixed a return date.

In a statement issued Saturday from Beijing, he said the Chinese doctors were continuing to treat him for cancer.

"I have the great honour of presenting to my lovely compatriots the kindness [China's] eminent doctors are showing in curing my third cancer (lymphoma B)," he said in a handwritten statement, but added that he did not know when his cancer would be cured.

"Every month at the Beijing Central Hospital there is chemotherapy, injections and a drip (that lasts seven hours). This treatment, which is indispensable, will last four, five or six months," he wrote.

He said his condition was being monitored through the use of MRI and PET scans.

"If it is completely cured, they will provide two more drips (seven hours for each drip) to prevent the cancer coming back."

Sihanouk's statement came three days after the 39th anniversary of the March 1970 coup in which he was overthrown by General Lon Nol, who abolished the Cambodian monarchy and set up a republican regime.

On March 20, he sent a letter of gratitude to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who referred to the 1970 coup in an address on the anniversary.

Sihanouk wrote: "I would like to thank you very much for giving justice to me and our nation's history in your speech."

In his speech at the National Institute of Education's annual congress on March 18, Hun Sen blamed the coup for unleashing decades of civil war and the 1975 victory of Khmer Rouge.

"If there was no coup d'etat on March 18, 1970, dismissing [Sihanouk], the war would not have taken place and the Pol Pot regime would not have been created either," Hun Sen said.

"If they had let Sihanouk lead the country, Cambodia would have developed more and would have prevented millions of deaths."

King-Father hospitalized in Beijing

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Communiqué from
Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia

Beijing, P.R. of China, (Wednesday) 31 December 2008

I have the honor to announce the following to my beloved Compatriots:

1- I was hospitalized on Tuesday 30 December 2008 from 8:30AM.

My eminent (Gentlemen and Ladies) PRC doctors and distinguished nurses have devoted their body and soul to care for me and to medically save me.

At the hospital, I was subjected to blood sampling, injections, chemotherapy, anti-cancer perfusion (7-hour long for the anti-cancer perfusion). PRC VIP doctors insisted on consciously looking into my case and on visiting me twice, once on 30 December and once the following day, and they participated to the medical care provided to me.

2- These medical cares continued on to Wednesday 31 December 2008, up until 5:00PM.

3- At 5:00PM on this 31 December 2008, I am back at the Khmer Royal Residence in Beijing. The lofty PRC medicine gave me very precious pills that replace 5 days of anti-cancer (chemotherapy) treatment at home out of 7 days of treatment at the hospital, therefore, there will be “chemotherapy through pills,” this does not exclude the frequent visits of my usual PRC doctor to my Beijing residence. On each Tuesday and each Wednesday to come, I will receive care at the great Beijing State Central Hospital. And this will go on until my complete cure.

With my deepest and faithful affection.

PS: 7 days a week, I must take various medicines.

(Signed) N. Sihanouk

Kign-Father's tribute to the "Small Khmer People" who (partly at least) remain so faithful to Him and who love Him

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Interview
BMD – Norodom Sihanouk

My answers to questions raised by the BMD management and team:

1- The current cancer is my third one (lymphoma B). My eminent PRC doctors, who succeeded in curing my previous two very serious cancers, told me that the current one (this third cancer) is localized in one portion of my body and this allows for simpler and easier care. In this regard, they are “optimist” (sic!).

2- My only sadness is the fact that I am thinking so much about the “Small Khmer People” who (partly at least) remain so faithful to me and who love me.

3- Because of my new cancer, as a tribute to the Sihanoukists who love my “Royal Singing” and short films, and based on the requests made by some of these Sihanoukists, I accept that TVK (on every Monday evening, following the broadcast of national and international “News” and … the weather report) broadcasts one “Royal Singing”, a short film by H.R.H. Samdech Buppha Devi based on my music, the “Andromak” film (to be completed at my own cost, and in the care of Samdach Kong Som Ol and H.E. Senator [Ieu] Pannaker).

Because of my cancer, my stay away from the Motherland and our beloved People must be prolonged through the generous and so benevolent PRC.

Because of N. Sihanouk’s distance, “my” short films will be broadcasted on TVK, every Monday evening, as a testimonial of my faithful thought to the beloved Compatriots.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

Beijing, P. R. of China
25 December 2008

Ex-Cambodian king fighting cancer

Friday, December 26, 2008
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is fighting his third bout with cancer but is optimistic he will recover and return to his homeland from China, according to a message on his Web site.

The 86-year-old Sihanouk, in a statement dated Wednesday, said he was being treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for lymphoma B cancer and would not return to Cambodia as planned in February.

Sihanouk, a dominant figure in Cambodian politics for six decades, abdicated in 2004, citing poor health. He was succeeded by one of his sons, Norodom Sihamoni, and has since spent much of his time in China.

In recent years, he has suffered from a number of ailments, including colon cancer, diabetes, hypertension and two strokes.

Sihanouk is also one of the world's great survivors having lived through wars, the Khmer Rouge terror and fierce political struggles beginning with his quest for independence from France in the early 1950s.

On the Web site, Sihanouk said he would return to Cambodia several months after his scheduled arrival when he was well again. He successfully battled two earlier bouts with the disease.

"In this regard, they (doctors) are optimistic," he wrote.

Cambodia's Former King Has Cancer For Third Time - Web Site

Friday December 26th, 2008

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP)--Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk has been diagnosed with cancer a third time, according to a message posted on his Web site.

The 86-year-old, who left for Beijing in July to receive medical treatment for another illness, wrote on Thursday that his Chinese doctors had found a new cancer, but he didn't disclose where it was.

Sihanouk has suffered from a number of ailments, including cancer, diabetes and hypertension.

Despite giving up his role as monarch, he remains a prominent figure in Cambodia who often uses messages to weigh in on matters affecting the country.

In his latest message he said the doctors, who had treated his two previous cancers, were optimistic about his treatment, saying the "current one is situated in a part of my body which will allow relatively simpler and easier treatment."

In another letter marked "confidential" but also posted on his Web site, the former king said his planned return to Cambodia in February would be delayed for treatment.

He said he will return when "my eminent (Chinese) doctors shall have healed me."

Sihanouk was first diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a cancer affecting blood cells crucial to the immune system, in 1993.

The cancer began in his prostate, and recurred in 2005 in his stomach.

Earlier this month Sihanouk said his health was deteriorating and hinted that he believed he didn't have long to live.