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.

Cambodian ex-king returns to China for checkup

Thu, Sep 03, 2009
AFP

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk on Thursday left the country for China for a routine medical check-up, his son King Norodom Sihamoni said.

Sihamoni said in a royal message, sent to media on Thursday, that his father was going to Beijing "in order to get illnesses checked and treated."

The king said he would also get his own health checked in Beijing. They were travelling with Sihanouk's wife.

Sihanouk returned to Cambodia in July after a stay of almost one year in China, where he was successfully treated for a third bout of cancer.

The 86-year-old confirmed he remained cancer-free and his health was good during a speech broadcast on national television at the weekend.

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

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

Despite abdicating, Sihanouk remains a prominent figure in Cambodia and often uses messages on his website to comment on matters of state.

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.