Sihanouk dies in Beijing
Cambodia’s former king Norodom Sihanouk died in Beijing yesterday at
the age of 89. Sihanouk, a frequent visitor to China where he received
most of his medical treatment, died of a heart attack, according to his
longtime personal assistant Prince Sisowath Thomico.
“He was brought to hospital and died shortly after,” he told AFP of
the former monarch who abruptly quit the throne in October 2004 in
favour of his son, citing old age and health problems. “It’s painful. I
am full of sorrow,” Prince Thomico said. “King Sihanouk did not belong
to his family, he belonged to Cambodia and to history.” The former king
had been staying at his Beijing residence since January. He would have
been 90 on October 31.
“The royal government of Cambodia will bring his body from the
People’s Republic of China to Phnom Penh to hold a funeral at the Royal
Palace according to our traditions,” said a government announcement read
out on Cambodian television. Sihanouk had fought a long battle with
health problems that dogged his final years, including cancer, diabetes,
hypertension and heart problems. Sihanouk was placed on the throne in
1941 at the age of 18 by French colonial authorities.
Twelve years later he gained Cambodia’s independence and shortly
after quit the throne for the first time in favour of his father Prince
Norodom Suramarit to pursue a career in politics. Sihanouk served as
premier half a dozen times, repeatedly leaving the post with a
characteristic flash of angry theatre over perceived slights, until
finally becoming “head of state” following the death of his father in
1960. He was toppled in a US-backed coup by one of his own generals, Lon
Nol, in 1970. Sihanouk then aligned himself with communist guerrillas
Khmer Rouge.
The hardline communist movement used him as a figurehead as they
seized power before putting him under house arrest in the royal palace
with his family during their 1975-79 reign of terror. Sihanouk later
condemned the Khmer Rouge, whose bloody rule left up to two million
people dead. He regained the throne in 1993, having helped push for
peace.
AFP
|