Norodom Sihanouk: Difference between revisions

Norodom Sihanouk


1st Prime Minister of Cambodia
In office 17 November 1961 – 13 February 1962
Preceded by	Penn Nouth
Succeeded by	Nhiek Tioulong (acting)
In office 10 July 1958 – 19 April 1960
Preceded by	Sim Var
Succeeded by	Pho Proeung
In office 9 April 1957 – 7 July 1957
Monarch	Norodom Suramarit
Preceded by	Sam Yun
Succeeded by	Sim Var
In office 15 September 1956 – 15 October 1956
Monarch	Norodom Suramarit
Preceded by	Khim Tit
Succeeded by	Sam Yun
In office 1 March 1956 – 24 March 1956
Monarch	Norodom Suramarit
Preceded by	Oum Chheang Sun
Succeeded by	Khim Tit
In office 3 October 1955 – 5 January 1956
Monarch	Norodom Suramarit
Preceded by	Leng Ngeth
Succeeded by	Oum Chheang Sun
In office 7 April 1954 – 18 April 1954
Preceded by	Chan Nak
Succeeded by	Penn Nouth
In office 16 June 1952 – 24 January 1953
Preceded by	Huy Kanthoul
Succeeded by	Penn Nouth
In office 28 April 1950 – 30 May 1950
Preceded by	Yem Sambaur
Succeeded by	Sisowath Monipong
In office 18 March 1945 – 13 August 1945
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Son Ngoc Thanh
Leader of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum
In office 24 March 1955 – 18 March 1970
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	None (party dissolved)
Head of State of Cambodia
In office 14 June 1993 – 24 September 1993
Preceded by	Chea Sim as Chairman of the Council of State
Succeeded by	Himself as King
In office 20 June 1960 – 18 March 1970
Preceded by	Chuop Hell (acting)
Succeeded by	Cheng Heng as President of the Khmer Republic
President of the State Presidium of Democratic Kampuchea
In office 17 April 1975 – 2 April 1976
Preceded by	Sak Sutsakhan as Chairman of the Supreme Committee
Succeeded by	Khieu Samphan

Personal details
Political party	FUNCINPEC (1981–1991)
Other political affiliations	Sangkum (1955–1970) Independent (1945–1955)
Alma mater	Armoured Cavalry Branch Training School
Profession	Politician, actor, author, film director

Norodom Sihanouk (Template:Lang-km; 31 October 1922 – 15 October 2012) was the King of Cambodia, who reigned from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 to 2004. He was also the Head of State of Cambodia between 1960 and 1970 and again in 1993. Sihanouk also served as several terms as the Prime Minister of Cambodia between 1945 and 1962, some of which he served concurrently as the King or Head of State.

He served as puppet head of state for the Khmer Rouge government in 1975–1976. Most of these positions were only honorific, including the last position as constitutional king of Cambodia. Sihanouk's actual period of effective rule over Cambodia was from 9 November 1953, when Cambodia gained its independence from France, until 18 March 1970, when General Lon Nol and the National Assembly deposed him. After his second abdication in 2004, he was known as "The King-Father of Cambodia" (Khmer: Preahmâhaviraksat), a position in which he retained many of his former responsibilities as constitutional monarch.

Early life and first reign

Sihanouk was the only child born of the union between Norodom Suramarit and Sisowath Kossamak. He received his primary education at the Francois Baudoin school and Nuon Moniram school, and subsequently pursued his secondary education in Saigon at Lycée Chasseloup Laubat. When his maternal grandfather, Sisowath Monivong died on 23 April 1941, the Crown Council appointed Prince Sihanouk as King of Cambodia the following day. Sihanouk was officially crowned on 3 May 1941. During the Japanese occupation of Cambodia, Sihanouk dedicated most of his time to sports, filming and the occasional tour to the countryside. In March 1945, the Japanese military which had occupied Cambodia from August 1941 dissolved the nominal French colonial administration. Under pressure from the Japanese, Sihanouk proclaimed Cambodia's independence and also assumed the position of Prime Minister at the same time.

As the Prime Minister, Sihanouk revoked a decree issued by the last resident superior of Cambodia, Georges Gautier to romanise the Khmer alphabet. Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, nationalist forces loyal to Son Ngoc Thanh launched a coup which led to Thanh being appointed as the Prime Minister. When the French returned to Cambodia in October 1945, Thanh was deposed from his position and was replaced by Sihanouk's uncle Sisowath Monireth. Monireth negotiated for greater autonomy of internal affairs within Cambodia. A Modus Vivendi was signed in January 1946 whereby Cambodia was granted full autonomy within the French Union. A joint French-Cambodian commission was set up after that to write Cambodia's constitution, and in April 1946, Sihanouk introduced clauses which provided for an elected parliament on the basis of universal male suffrage. Provisions were also given to press freedom in-principle. The first constitution was signed into effect by Sihanouk in May 1947. Around this time, Sihanouk made two trips to Saumur, France where he undertook military training at the Armoured Cavalry Branch Training School in 1946 and again in 1948. At the end of the training, Sihanouk was made a reserve captain for the French army.

In early 1949, Sihanouk travelled to Paris with his parents to negotiate for more autonomy to Cambodia, which led to the signing of a Franco-Khmer treaty that cancelled the Modus Vivendi signed in 1946. In September 1949, Sihanouk dissolved the National Assembly and ruled by decree until September 1951 when the Democrat Party pressured Sihanouk to hold national elections. Sihanouk travelled to France in February 1953, and wrote twice to then-French President Vincent Auriol to cede control over all remaining executive powers in Cambodia by citing on widespread anti-French sentiment among the Cambodian populace. Auriol responded by appointing the French commissioner for overseas territories, Jean Letourneau to meet with Sihanouk. When Letourneau rejected Sihanouk's suggestion, the latter travelled to Canada and United States (US) where he exploited on the prevailing anti-communist sentiments to call for Cambodian independence. According to Sihanouk, Cambodia faced a Communist threat similar to that of the Viet Minh in Vietnam and the solution to address the Communist threat was full independence for Cambodia.

Sihanouk returned to Cambodia in June 1953, and took up residence in Siem Reap. He organised public rallies calling for the Cambodians to fight forces that opposed the Cambodian state, and organised a citizenry militia which recruited at least 100,000 people. In August 1953, France agreed to cede control over judicial and interior ministry to Cambodia, while another further agreement was secured in October 1953 which saw France surrendering control over defense matters. Sihanouk returned to Phnom Penh at the end of the month, and on 9 November 1953 Cambodia officially declared independence from France.

In May 1954, Sihanouk sent Nhiek Tioulong and Tep Phan to participate in the Geneva Conference. The accord for Cambodia reaffirmed the country's independence, and also allowed Cambodia to seek military aid from any country. Sihanouk still faced domestic opposition from the Democrat Party which were unhappy with his intervention in politics and held a majority in the National Assembly. In February 1955, a referendum was held, and campaign propaganda made references to Sihanouk's efforts to seek national independence. The referendum returned with 99.8% of the electorate approving Sihanouk's efforts.

Sangkum era

Main article: Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)

Premiership (1955–1960)

Sihanouk announced his abdication from the throne on 2 March 1955 over Phnom Penh radio, and stated his intention not to return to the throne after abdication. The throne council nominated his father Suramarit to succeed him. A month later in April 1955, Sihanouk announced the formation of the Sangkum, a political organisation with a stated emphasis on forging national unity. Four right-wing political parties led by Lon Nol, Sam Sary, Oum Cheang Sun and Dap Chhuon merged to join the Sangkum at Sihanouk's advice. When parliamentary elections were held on September 1955, the Sangkum took 83% of all valid votes, taking up all seats in the National Assembly. Sihanouk was subsequently sworn in as Prime Minister the following month.

In the first few years after Sihanouk became Prime Minister, he introduced several constitutional changes that included extending suffrage to women, adopting the Khmer language as the sole official language of the country and making Cambodia a Constitutional monarchy by vesting policy making powers to the Prime Minister rather than the King. However, policy disputes and politicking between ministries and politicians occurred regularly, leading to regular cabinet reshuffles and Sihanouk himself alternately resigned and retook the Prime Minister post three times between 1955 and 1958.

Around 1958, Cambodia's relations with Thailand and South Vietnam deteriorated as the armies of both countries carried out incursions into the disputed territory of Preah Vihear and border areas with Vietnam at Stung Treng respectively. The leaders of these both countries, Sarit Thanarat and Ngo Dinh Diem also harboured deep suspicions of Sihanouk's professed policy neutrality as Sihanouk was warmly received by Zhou Enlai during a state visit to China in that year. At this point of time, Diem and his younger brother and chief adviser, Ngo Dinh Nhu came up with a secret plot to overthrow Sihanouk and install a pro-American regime. When the CIA and Sarit learnt of Diem and Nhu's coup plans, they quickly joined in to support. Thailand facilitated the secret meetings, and Dap Chhuon, Son Ngoc Thanh and Sam Sary were roped in to discuss plans to overthrow Sihanouk. Sihanouk discovered the plot, and he publicised the plot details during a rally at Kampong Cham in January 1959.

The CIA and Dap Chhuon pressed on with their plans to overthrow Sihanouk, and Thailand provided large caches of weapons and ammunitions. An Japanese American CIA operative, Victor Matsui also brought gold to help finance the coup attempt in February 1959. Sihanouk sent Lon Nol to capture Dap Chhuon, who had him summarily executed. The weapons and gold were discovered after that, and Sihanouk charged Dap Chhuon, his brother Slat Peou and the South Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia Ngo Trong Hieu for their direct involvement in the plot. Six months later on 31 August 1959, a small packaged lacquer gift fitted with a parcel bomb was delivered to Queen Kossamak. Norodom Vakrivan, the chief of protocol who opened the package was killed instantly, along with a personal valet of King Suramarit. Another two palace servants were wounded, but King Suramarit and Queen Kossamak who were in another room escaped unharmed. An investigation was carried out and traced the origin of the parcel bomb being sent from an American military base in Saigon, and Sihanouk went on to accuse Ngo Dinh Nhu of masterminding the bomb attack as an assasination attempt against him.

Head of State (1960–1970)

King Suramarit died on 3 April 1960 after suffering from several months of poor health which Sihanouk attributed to the fright that Suramarit received from parcel bomb attack. Sisowath Monireth was sworn in as the Regent of Cambodia the following day, and Sihanouk introduced constitutional amendments by creating a new post of the Head of State of Cambodia that provided ceremonial powers equivalent to that of the King. A referendum was held on 5 June 1960 which approved of Sihanouk's proposals, and Sihanouk was formally appointed as the Head of State on 14 June 1960.

Sihanouk's relationship with leaders of various countries deterioated from 1962, which he claimed that he was not accorded appropriate decorum when meeting with world leaders. The claims were made during Sihanouk's visit to the United Nations in 1962 and a proposed visit to the United Kingdom that did not materialise around the same time. Sihanouk have had held deep suspicion of the CIA continuously supporting Khmer Serei efforts to overthrow his regime, and in November 1962, threatened to reject all American economic aid if CIA did not withdraw its support for the Khmer Serei. One year later in November 1963, Sihanouk announced that Cambodia would reject all forms of economic aid from the US, at the same time nationalising Cambodia's entrepot trade. Sihanouk established a statutory board, SONEXIM which was empowered to formulate policies to regulate the entrepot trade

From 1964 onwards, Sihanouk forged closer relations with North Vietnam and the Viet Cong resistance. He allowed the Viet Cong to build a trail through eastern Cambodia to allow Viet Cong troops to receive war supplies from North Vietnam. The trail became known as the Sihanouk Trail. When the US learnt of Vietcong presence in eastern Cambodia, they started a bombing campaign in this region, which spurrned Sihanouk to sever diplomatic ties with the US in May 1965. Other Communist countries including China, Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia provided military aid to Cambodia as a result of Sihanouk's warming of relations with North Vietnam.

According to Sisowath Entaravong, a member of the royal family, Cambodia's economy was heavily affected with corruption which involved high-ranking civil servants, government ministers and members of the royal family. In 1963, when Sihanouk nationalised the entrepot trade, commodity prices were fixed at low rates to ward off competition from imported luxury goods. However, merchants were able to import luxury goods through bribery, a practice that caused the worsening of corruption. Army officers also helped to sell imported rice to Viet Cong forces at lowered prices to bypass the expensive customs duties, and in return they received kickbacks. Army officers also suffered pay cuts in their salaries due to Sihanouk's decision to reject US aid, which was partly paid from US aid. This spurned them to participate in clandestine trade activities. The Cambodian army also experienced a reduction of weapon inventory due to attrition and lack of spare parts, and shortage of army uniforms once US aid was terminated.

Sometime in mid-1966, bilateral relations between China and Cambodia deterioated as Mao Zedong were uncomfortable with Cambodia's relations with the Soviet Union, whereas Sihanouk was uncomfortable with Mao's Cultural Revolution which started in the same year. In April 1967, angry peasants killed two government soldiers when they went to collect rice in Battambang Province, which led to the Samlaut Uprising. Sihanouk accused Khieu Samphan, Hou Yuon and Hu Nim of orchestrating the rebellion, forcing them to flee and join the Khmer Rouge. A month later, Sihanouk also received reports that many members of the ethnic Chinese Cambodian community were becoming critical of the Lon Nol administration and were receptive to Chinese Communist propaganda. Sihanouk believed that cladestine intelligence services from the Chinese government had played a role in these two events, and acted to downgrade bilateral relations with China in September 1967.

Sihanouk subsequently pursued rapprochement with the US, and hosted a private visit of Jacqueline Kennedy to Cambodia in October 1967. He met with the US ambassador to India, Chester Bowles in January 1968 and acknowledged the presence of Viet Cong troops in the Cambodia while also indicating that he would not stop US forces from crossing into Cambodia to attack Viet Cong forces. Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and US were restored at the end of 1968. When Henry Kissinger laid out plans to bomb parts of eastern Cambodia in 1969, Sihanouk refrained from protesting against them. Around this time, Cambodia suffered a decline in agricultural productivity due to the drift of Agent Orange from South Vietnam and widespread corruption. In August 1969, Sihanouk approved of a new government led by Lon Nol and with Sisowath Sirik Matak as his deputy. When Lon Nol left Cambodia in October to seek medical treatment, Sirik Matak instituted policy changes that ran contrary to Sihanouk's wishes, such as re-establishing Cambodian troop presence in the northeastern provinces where the Viet Cong were based in, and also relaxed state control of the entrepot trade From September 1969 onwards, Lon Nol and Sirik Matak also secretly contacted Son Ngoc Thanh to discuss the possibility of overthrowing Sihanouk.

Deposition and Khmer Rouge years

In early January 1970, Sihanouk left Cambodia for medical treatment in France. The following month, Lon Nol de-monetised all 500-riel banknotes in circulation to deprive Viet Cong troops of the ability to buy rice and supply goods. Lon Nol and Sirik Matak also encouraged demonstrations to be held outside the North Vietnamese embassy to protest the presence of Viet Cong troops in Cambodia. On 16 March 1970, the half-brother of Monique, Oum Mannorine was summoned to the National Assembly over corruption charges. On the same night after the hearing, Oum ordered troops under his command to arrest Lon Nol and Sirik Matak, but ended up being placed under house arrest by Sirik Matak. Two days later on 18 March, troops were stationed at Pochentong airport and the National Assembly building. The assembly voted to endorse a military government headed by Lon Nol and provide emergency powers. A secret ballot was cast whereby the assembly voted to depose Sihanouk.

Sihanouk was in Moscow on the day of his overthrow and the Soviet foreign minister, Alexei Kosygin, was tasked to informed him of the news. Sihanouk flew to Beijing where he was received by the Chinese premier Zhou Enlai. Sihanouk also met with the Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, and on 23 March 1970 Sihanouk announced a resistance front known as National United Front of Kampuchea (FUNK). Sometime later on 5 May 1970, Sihanouk announced the formation of a government-in-exile known as GRUNK and led Communist countries including China, North Vietnam, and North Korea to break relations with the Lon Nol regime. In Phnom Penh, a military trial convened on 2 July 1970 and Sihanouk was sentenced to death in absentia three days later.

Sihanouk alternately lived in Beijing and Pyongyang between 1970 and 1975, where custom-made, large residences were built for him to live. In February 1973, Sihanouk travelled to Hanoi where he started on a long journey with Khieu Samphan and other Khmer Rouge leaders. The convoy traveled along the Ho Chi Minh trail and reached the Cambodian border at Stung Treng Province the following month. Sihanouk faced constant bombardment of American planes from Operation Freedom Deal throughout his visit to Khmer Rouge–controlled areas of Cambodia. Sihanouk travelled across the provinces of Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap. At Siem Reap, Sihanouk visited the temples of Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, and Bayon. In August 1973, Sirik Matak wrote an open letter to call Sihanouk to bring the Cambodian Civil War to an end and accepting the possibility of the latter returning to the country. When the letter reached Sihanouk, he angrily rejected Sirik Matak's advances.

When the Khmer Republic fell to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975, Prince Sihanouk became the symbolic head of state of the new regime. He continued to live in Beijing until September 1975 when he returned to Cambodia so as to inter the ashes of Queen Kossamak, who had died in Beijing just days after the Fall of Phnom Penh. He subsequently went abroad to recommend the diplomatic recognition of Democratic Kampuchea, and visited several Communist countries before returning to Cambodia on 31 December 1975. After presiding a meeting to endorse the constitution of the Democratic Kampuchea, Sihanouk was taken on a tour across Cambodia by Khieu Samphan the following month whereby he witnessed the effects of the Cambodian genocide orchestrated by the Angkar. Sihanouk asked to resign from his position as the head of state, which Pol Pot rejected. However, his request to resign was subsequently accepted in mid-April 1975 and retroactively dated back to 2 April 1975.

From this point in time onwards, Sihanouk was placed under house arrest until January 1979, and his requests to travel overseas were turned down by the Angkar. Sihanouk was taken to Beijing from Phnom Penh on 6 January 1979, one day before Vietnamese troops occupied Phnom Penh. From Beijing, Sihanouk flew to New York to attend the UN Security Council where he simultaneously condemned the Khmer Rouge for orchestrating the Cambodian genocide as well as the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. Sihanouk subsequently sought asylum in China after making two unsuccessful asylum applications with the US and France.

FUNCINPEC and CGDK years

A new government supported by Vietnam, the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was established shortly after the overthrow of Democratic Kampuchea. The Chinese government led by Deng Xiaoping was unhappy with Vietnam's role in the establishment of the PRK government. Deng proposed to Sihanouk to corporate with the Khmer Rouge, an idea which Sihanouk rejected. In March 1981, Sihanouk established a resistance movement, FUNCINPEC together with a small resistance army known as the ANS (Armée Nationale Sihanoukiste). Around this time, Sihanouk started tripartite talks between FUNCINPEC with the Khmer Rouge and the Son Sann-led Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) as China applied diplomatic pressure for him to collaborate with the Khmer Rouge as a precondition to receiving material aid for FUNCINPEC.

After several rounds of tripartite talks, Sihanouk presided over the establishment of a government exile, the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) in June 1982. Several rounds of tripartite talks were hosted by China between 1982 and 1987, but yielded little diplomatic progress to ending the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. From 1986 onwards, Vietnam faced political pressure from the Soviet Union to withdraw its troops from Cambodia. In December 1987, the Prime Minister of the PRK government, Hun Sen first met with Sihanouk to discuss about the ending of the protracted Cambodian–Vietnamese War. The following July, the then-foreign minister of Indonesia, Ali Alatas brokered the first series of discussion known as the Jakarta Informal Meetings (JIM).

The JIMs were held in Jakarta, and involved the four warring Cambodian factions consisting of FUNCINPEC, Khmer Rouge, KPNLF and the PRK government over the future of Cambodia in Jakarta. After additional JIMs were held in February and May 1989, Ali Alatas and the then-French foreign minister Roland Dumas convened the Paris Peace Conference between July and August 1989 to discuss plans for Vietnamese troop withdrawal and power sharing arrangements for a future Cambodian government. In August 1989, Sihanouk resigned as president of FUNCINPEC. In September 1990, the United Nations (UN) sponsored the establishment of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia (SNC), an administrative body responsible for overseeing sovereign affairs of Cambodia for an interim period until UN-sponsored elections are held. The creation of the SNC was subsequently ratified with United Nations Security Council Resolution 668. In July 1991, Sihanouk left FUNCINPEC altogether, and was elected as the chairperson of the SNC.

UNTAC administration era

The Paris Peace Accords were signed on 23 October 1991 which formally recognised the SNC and provided for the creation of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). The UNTAC was authorised to station peacekeeping troops in Cambodia to supervise the disarmament of the four warring Cambodian factions and carry out free and fair national elections in the country. Sihanouk subsequently returned to Phnom Penh on 14 November 1991, and city folks lined the streets of Phnom Penh as Sihanouk rode on an open top limousine with Hun Sen to celebrate his return to the country. The UNTAC administration was formally established in February 1992, but soon faced resistance from the Khmer Rouge in enforcing peacekeeping operations. Sihanouk responded by calling to abandon the Khmer Rouge from the peacekeeping process in July and September 1992. During this period of time, Sihanouk spent most of the time in Siem Reap and making helicopter trips to supervise election preparations in KPNLF, FUNCINPEC and Khmer Rouge resistance bases.

Sihanouk left Cambodia for Beijing in November 1992, where he would stay on for the next six months until he returned to Cambodia on the eve of elections in May 1993. While in Beijing, Sihanouk briefly proposed a Presidential system government for Cambodia to Boutros Boutros-Ghali, but dropped the idea after facing rejection from the Khmer Rouge. The general elections were held in May 1993, with FUNCINPEC headed by Sihanouk's son Norodom Ranariddh garnering the most votes while the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) headed by Hun Sen came in second. CPP leaders were unhappy with the election results and on 3 June 1993, Hun Sen and Chea Sim called on Sihanouk to assume all state power. Sihanouk complied, and announced the formation of a Provisional National Government (PRG) headed by him with Hun Sen and Ranariddh as his deputies. Ranariddh was not informed of Sihanouk's plans, and joined the Australia, China, United Kingdom and United States in opposing the PRG plan. Sihanouk dropped the PRG plan the following day through a national radio broadcast.

On 14 June 1993, a constituent assembly session presided by Ranariddh nullified the 1970 coup d'etat which overthrew Sihanouk, and reinstated the latter as Cambodia's Head of State. In the first few days of his appointment, Sihanouk renamed the Cambodian military to its pre-1970 namesake, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. On 29 June 1993, Sihanouk issued another order to officially rename the country from the State of Cambodia to simply "Cambodia". He also reinstated Nokor Reach as the National Anthem of Cambodia with some minor modifications to its lyrics, and also the Cambodian flag to its pre-1970 design. Sihanouk also appointed Ranariddh and Hun Sen as the Co-Prime Ministers of Cambodia with equal powers in a provisional government, which was ratified by the Constituent Assembly on 2 July 1993. On 30 August 1993, Ranariddh and Hun Sen met Sihanouk presented two draft constitutions, one of them stipulating a constitutional monarchy headed by a King and another a republican state led by a Head of State. Sihanouk chose the option of making Cambodia a constitutional monarchy, and was ratified by the constituent assembly on 21 September 1993.

Second reign

The new constitution was proclaimed on 24 September 1993, and Sihanouk was reinstated as the King of Cambodia. A permanent coalition government was formed between FUNCINPEC, CPP and BLDP, and Ranariddh and Hun Sen assumed the positions of First and Second Prime Ministers respectively. Shortly after that, Sihanouk took leave to Beijing for cancer treatment where he spent several months there. In May and June 1994, Sihanouk wrote a series of public letters to the government, starting with a call for fresh elections and giving government posts to end the ongoing insurgency with the Khmer Rouge based in Pailin and Anlong Veng. When Hun Sen rejected the suggestions, Sihanouk proposed a national unity government that would see the participation of FUNCINPEC, CPP and Khmer Rouge forces with him as the Head of State and government. Hun Sen rejected Sihanouk's proposal for the second time, and cited the Khmer Rouge's past intransigent attitude would make the proposal unrealistic. In July 1994, Sihanouk arranged the exile of another son, Norodom Chakrapong after he was physically threatened by government forces over an alleged coup attempt against the government. The following November, Sihanouk made a similar arrangement for his younger half-brother, Norodom Sirivudh to be exiled to France after the latter was implicated in an assasination plot to kill Hun Sen.

Relations between the two co-Prime Ministers, Ranariddh and Hun Sen started to deteriorate from early 1996 as Ranariddh became unhappy with repeated delays from the CPP in awarding low-level government posts to FUNCINPEC officials. At the FUNCINPEC congress in March 1996, Ranariddh threatened to pull out of the coalition government and hold national elections in 1996, which stoked unease from Hun Sen and other CPP officials. The following month, Sihanouk presided over a meeting between some royal family members and senior FUNCINPEC officials in Paris. Sihanouk attempted to tone down the tensions between FUNCINPEC and the CPP by issuing statements, assuring that FUNCINPEC would not leave the coalition government and there were no reactionary elements to bring down Hun Sen or the CPP.

In March 1997, Sihanouk offered to abdicate the throne, and his suggestion prompted Hun Sen to call for constitutional amendments to bar members of the royal family from participating in politics. In July 1997, violent clashes erupted in Phnom Penh between forces loyal to the CPP and FUNCINPEC, which effectively led to Ranariddh's ouster. Sihanouk voiced displeasure against Hun Sen for orchestrating the clashes, but refrained from calling Ranariddh's ouster a "coup d'etat", a term which FUNCINPEC members used. When the National Assembly elected Ung Huot as the First Prime Minister to replace Ranariddh on 6 August 1997, Sihanouk charged that Ranariddh's ouster was illegal and renewed his offer to abdicate from the throne. In September 1998, Sihanouk meditated political talks in Siem Reap after the FUNCINPEC and the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) staged demonstrations against the CPP-led government for irregularities over the 1998 general elections.

Sihanouk maintained a monthly bulletin, which he wrote commentaries over governance issues and posted photo souvenirs of Cambodia in the 1950s and 1960s. Around 1997, a character known by the name of "Ruom Rith" started to appear in the monthly bulletin and became extremely critical of Hun Sen and the government. Hun Sen reportedly became extremely unhappy with the commentaries, and called on the king to stop publishing the commentaries on two occassions in 1998 and 2003. According to Ranariddh, Ruom Rith was an alter ego of Sihanouk, a claim which the latter vehemently denies. In July 2002, Sihanouk expressed concern over the absence of detailed constitutional provisions over the organisation and functioning of the the Cambodian throne council. When Hun Sen rejected Sihanouk concern, the latter issued a letter in September 2002 threatening to abdicate so as to force the throne council to convene and elect a new monarch.

General elections were held again in July 2003, whereby the CPP won the most votes but failed to secure two-thirds of all parliamentary sears required to form a new government. The two runner-up parties, FUNCINPEC and SRP filed complaints over alleged electoral irregularities with the Constitutional Council, which were turned down in August 2003 When FUNCINPEC and SRP announced their decision to attend the swearing in ceremony of parliamentarians, Sihanouk announced his decision to abstain from presiding the swearing-in ceremony, unless all parliamentarians from the three political parties agreed to attend. The Constitutional Council subsequently advised Sihanouk to preside over the swearing-in ceremony, which was held later in October 2003. The CPP, FUNCINPEC and SRP held additional talks into 2004 and Sihanouk proposed a tripartite unity government, but political stalemate persisted until June 2004 due to conflicting demands from the three political parties.

Abdication and final years

Sihanouk made another call to abdicate on 6 July 2004. At the same time, Hun Sen and Ranariddh had agreed to introduce a constitutional amendment that allowed a open voting system for the selection of the government ministers as well as the President of the National Assembly. Sihanouk disproved the open voting system, and called on Senate President Chea Sim not to sign the amendment. When Chea Sim heeded his advice, he was ferried out of the country shortly before the National Assembly convened to vote on the amendment 15 July. A new coalition government was formed on the 17 July 2004 between the CPP and FUNCINPEC, with the SRP in the opposition. On 6 October 2004, Sihanouk wrote a letter calling for the throne council to convene and select a successor. The National Assembly and Senate held emergency meetings to pass laws allowing for the abdication of the monarch, and on 14 October the throne council unanimously voted to select Norodom Sihamoni as Sihanouk's successor. Sihamoni was crowned as the King of Cambodia on 29 October 2004.

In March 2005, Sihanouk expressed concerns over allegations of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam of delineating borders at the expense of Cambodian territory. Two months later, Sihanouk formed the Supreme National Council on Border Affairs (SNCBA) to address concerns over Cambodian borders with its neighbours, and was made its chairman. The SRP and Chea Sim expressed support for Sihanouk for the formation of the SNCBA, while Hun Sen formed a separate body, National Authority on Border Affairs (NABA) to deal with border concerns and stated that the SNCBA may only serve as an advisory body. In October 2005, Sihanouk dissolved the SNCBA, around the same time Hun Sen signed a border treaty with Vietnam. In August 2007, a US based human rights NGO called for Sihanouk's State immunity so as to allow him to testify in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Sihanouk responded to the call by inviting the ECCC public affairs officer, Peter Foster for a discussion session on his personal experience under the Khmer Rouge regime. Both Hun Sen and FUNCINPEC criticized the suggestion, with the latter calling the NGO as disrespectful to Sihanouk. The ECCC subsequently rejected Sihanouk's invitation.

The following year, bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia became strained due to overlapping claims of the land area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple. Sihanouk issued a communique in July 2008 to emphasise the Khmer architecture of the temple as well as ICJ's 1962 ruling of the temple in favour of Cambodia. In August 2009, Sihanouk stated that he would stop posting messages on his personal website due to his advancing age, which made it difficult for him to keep up with his personal duties. Sihanouk spent most of his time in Beijing for medical treatment, but made a final public appearance in Phnom Penh on his 89th birthday and 20th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords on 30 October 2011. Sihanouk expressed his intent to stay in Cambodia indefinitely, but returned to Beijing in January 2012 for further medical treatment at the advise of his Chinese doctors.

Death

Main article: Death and state funeral of Norodom Sihanouk

In January 2012, Sihanouk issued a letter to express his wish to be cremated following his death, and that his ashes were to be placed in a golden urn. A few months later in September 2012, Sihanouk stated his intent not to return to Cambodia from Beijing for his 90th birthday, citing fatigue as the reason. On 15 October 2012, Sihanouk died of a heart attack at 1.20 am, Phnom Penh time. King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen led a delegation of officials to Beijing on the same day. The Cambodian government announced an official mourning period of 7 days between 17 October 2012 and 24 October 2012, and state flags were told to fly at one-third of the mast height. Two days later, Sihanouk's body was brought back from Beijing on an Air China flight.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, Sihanouk's assistant and nephew, said "his death was a great loss to Cambodia," adding that Sihanouk had dedicated his life "for the sake of his entire nation, country and for the Cambodian people." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also commented, acknowledging Sihanouk's "long dedication to his country and his legacy as a unifying national leader who is revered by Cambodians and respected internationally." After Sihanouk's death, the National Television of Kampuchea repeatedly screened a 30-minute documentary about his life. 100,000 Cambodians were expected to line the route from the airport to the Royal Palace for the return of Sihanouk's body, but state television broadcaster TVK later said about 1,200,000 people had turned out. On November 28, 2012, King Father Norodom Sihanouk was anointed by Royal Decree of HM King Norodom Sihamoni with the title Preah Karuna Preah Norodom Sihanouk Preah Borom Ratanakkot (Template:Lang-km (literally meaning The King who lies in the Diamond Urn).

On 1 February 2013, crowds gathered on the streets of Phnom Penh to bid one last farewell to Sihanouk, as his body was carried through the city. Other foreign dignities also attended his cremation ceremony, including French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prince Akishino of Japan, China's Jia Qinglin, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, as well as US ambassador to Cambodia William E. Todd, and many more. The body was brought to the Royal Palace, where it was cremated on 5 February 2013. Sihanouk's ashes were then submersed into the Mekong River.

After his death, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that a statue of Sihanouk would be made. It was inaugurated on 11 October 2013 with King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath present at the ceremony. The statue is located in Phnom Penh, near the Independence Monument. The government also announced that October 15 will become an official public holiday as a mourning period of Norodom Sihanouk.

Artistic works

Filmography

Main article: Norodom Sihanouk filmography

Sihanouk developed an interest for the cinema from a young age, which he attributed to frequent trips to the cinema with his parents. Shortly after ascending the throne in 1941, Sihanouk experimenting with film making, and sent students to study filmmaking in France. When the film Lord Jim was released in 1965, Sihanouk became vexed with the negative portrayal the film gave of Cambodia. Sihanouk responded by producing his first feature film, Apsara in 1966 which was marked with a positive portrayal of Cambodia. Sihanouk went on to produce, direct and act in another eight more films between 1966 and 1969, which were imbued with subtle nationalist and Cold War themes. In 1967, one of Sihanouk films, The Enchanted Forest obtained a nomination at the 5th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1968 and 1969, Sihanouk initiated the Phnom Penh International Film Festival, and in both years he was awarded the Golden Apsara Prize. Sihanouk stopped making films following his ouster in 1970, but started to produce films again from 1987 onwards. In 1997, Sihanouk revealed that he received a budget of $20,000 to $70,000 for each of his film production from the Cambodian government. Six years later in 2004, Sihanouk donated his film archives to the École française d'Extrême-Orient in France and Monash University in Australia. Sihanouk produced his last film, Miss Asina in 2006, and went on to state that he was ending all film production activities four years later in May 2010.

Musical works

Sihanouk was an avid singer and song composer, and learnt to play several musical instruments such as the clarinet, saxophone, piano and accordion from a young age. Songs which Sihanouk wrote were usually based on patriotic themes appraising various aspects of Cambodia, nostalgic songs of foreign countries and romantic songs dedicated to Monique. Sihanouk led a musical band in the 1960s consisting members of the royal family, who would perform French songs and his own personal compositions. He would also organise concerts throughout Cambodia in his nationwide tours. In the 1980s, Sihanouk regularly held concerts to entertain diplomats while visiting the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, He would continue the practice of holding concerts at the Cambodian Royal Palace in the 1990s and 2000s.

Titles and styles

Styles of King Norodom Sihanouk

Reference style	His Royal Majesty
Spoken style	Your Royal Majesty
Alternative style	Sir

Sihanouk was known by many state and political titles throughout his lifetime, and the Guinness Book of World Records identifies Sihanouk as the royal who has served the greatest variety of state and political offices.

When Sihanouk was crowned as the King of Cambodia in 1941, he was bestowed with the official title of "His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk Varman". He subsequently reverted to the title of Prince following his abdication from the throne in 1955, and was bestowed the title of "Samdech Preah Upayuvareach" by his father and successor in 1955. The title trnslates to as "The Prince who has been King" in English.

Following his abdication, Sihanouk's official title was "Preah Karuna Preah Bat Sâmdach Preah Norodom Sihanouk Preahmâhaviraksat" (Template:Lang-km) in English (His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk The Great Heroic King King-Father of Khmer independence, territorial integrity and national unity).

Foreign honours

: Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit in white (22.6.1956)
: Raja of the Order of Sikatuna (30 January 1956)

Personal life

Family

Sihanouk reportedly had several wives and concubines, producing at least fourteen children in a period of eleven years. According to Time (30 June 1956), however, his legal wives were Princess Samdech Norleak (married 1955) and Paule Monique Izzi (married 1955), who is a step-granddaughter of HRH Prince Norodom Duongchak of Cambodia and the younger daughter of Pomme Peang and her second husband, Jean-François Izzi, a banker. A profile of Sihanouk in The New York Times (4 June 1993, page A8) stated that the King met Monique Izzi in 1951, when he awarded her a prize in a beauty pageant.

Health

Sihanouk was diagnosed with B-Cell Lymphoma in his prostate in 1993; the disease recurred in his stomach in 2005, and a new cancer was found in December 2008. Sihanouk also suffered from diabetes and hypertension. Sihanouk received medical treatment in Beijing from January, 2012 for a number of health problems, including colon cancer, diabetes, and hypertension until his death.

Ancestry

Family of Norodom Sihanouk

16. Ang Duong

8. Norodom of Cambodia

17. Pen

4. Norodom Sutharot

18. Battambang bureaucrat

9. Bossaba Yem

19.

2. Norodom Suramarit

20. Ang Duong (=16 & 24)

10. Norodom of Cambodia (=8 & 28)

21. Pen (=17)

5. Norodom Phangangam

22. Lothia Sa

11. Bopha Nuon

23.

1. Norodom Sihanouk

24. Ang Duong (=16 & 20)

12. Sisowath of Cambodia

25. Neang Pou

6. Sisowath Monivong

26. A bureaucrat

13. Van

27.

3. Sisowath Kossamak

28. Norodom of Cambodia (=8 & 10)

14. Norodom Hassakan

29.

7. Norodom Kanviman

30. Sao

15. Sao Sambhat

31. Yura Varman

Works

File:Sihanouk statue at night.jpg

Statue of Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh.

The position of Cambodia in a dangerous world San Francisco : Asia Foundation, 1958
Speech delivered by His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk, President of the Council of Ministers on the occasion of the inauguration of the Khmer-American Friendship Highway Phnom-Penh, 1959
Ideal, purpose and duties of the Khmer Royal Socialist Youth; interpretation and commentary of the statute of the K. R. S. Y., N.p., c.1960s
Address of H.R.H. Norodom Sihanouk, Chief of State of Cambodia conference of heads of state or government of non-aligned countries. New York: Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations 1961
Address of H.R.H. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Chief of State of Cambodia to the Asia Society. New York: Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations 1961
Address at the sixteenth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations New York: Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations 1961
Articles published in "Realités cambodgiennes" 22 June – 27 July 1962. Washington, D. C., Royal Cambodian Embassy 1961
Speech by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State, at the opening of the sixth Asian Conference organized by the Society of Friends. Information 1962
Open letter to the international press Phnom Penh: Imprimerie du Ministere de L'Information, 1964
Interview with Prince Sihanouk. with William Worthy Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Information, 1965
Are we "false neutrals"?: editorial in Kambuja review no. 16; 15 July 1966 Phnom Phen: Head of State's Cabinet, 1966
The failure experienced by the United States in their dealings with the "Third World," viewed in the light of Cambodia's own experience, Phnom Penh? 1968
Brief notes on national construction in Cambodia Phnom Penh : Impr. Sangkum Reastr Niyum, 1969
Message and solemn declaration of Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State of Cambodia (March 23, 1970). : Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia; New York: Indochina Solidarity Committee, 1970
Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia talks to Americans, Sept.–Oct. 1970. [n. p., 1970
Message to American friends by Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. [n. p., 1970
Letter of Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State of Cambodia, to their majesties and their excellencies the heads of government of non-aligned countries. [n. p., 1970
Cambodia today: an interview with Prince Norodom Sihanouk. (with Ken Coates and Chris Farley) Nottingham, Eng.: Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, 1970
Prince Norodom Sihanouk replies to Mr Norman Kirk M.P., Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand) [New Zealand? : s.n., 1971
Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia speaks; January–February 1971. [S.l. : s.n., 1971
Third World liberation: the key: speech to the Algiers summit conference Nottingham, Eng.: Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, 1973

The Cambodian resistance Auckland, Auckland Vietnam Committee, 1973
Statements by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, 1965–1973 Washington, Embassy of the Khmer Republic, Press Sectin, 1973
War and hope: the case for Cambodia New York, Pantheon Books 1980
Prince Sihanouk on Cambodia: interviews and talks with Prince Norodom Sihanouk (with Manola Schier-Oum and Peter Schier) Hamburg: Institut für Asienkunde, 1980
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, seen by Norodom Sihanouk Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1980

References

Widyono, Benny, Dancing in Shadows: Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge, and the United Nations in Cambodia (2008), p. 289.
^ Jeldres (2005), p. 30
Jeldres (2003), p. 58
Jeldres (2005), p. 294
^ Jeldres (2003), p. 54
Osborne (1994), p. 30
Osborne (1994), p. 37
Osborne (1994), p. 42
Osborne (1994), p. 43
Osborne (1994), p. 45
Osborne (1994), p. 48
Jeldres (2005), p. 44
Osborne (1994), p. 50
Osborne (1994), p. 51
Jeldres (2005), p. 46
Jeldres (2005), p. 206
Jeldres (2005), p. 47
Osborne (1994), p. 63
^ Osborne (1994), p. 66
Osborne (1994), p. 74
Osborne (1994), p. 76
^ Jeldres (2003), p. 61
Osborne (1994), p. 80
Osborne (1994), p. 87
Osborne (1994), p. 88
Jeldres (2005), p. 52
Jeldres (2005), p. 54
Jeldres (2003), p. 44
Jeldres (2005), p. 55
Jeldres (2003), p. 68
Jeldres (2005), p. 58
Jeldres (2005), p. 59
Osborne (1994), p. 105
Burchett (1973), p. 84
Osborne (1994), p. 107
Osborne (1994), p. 108
Burchett (1973), p. 105
Osborne (1994), p. 110
Burchett (1973), p. 107
Burchett (1973), p. 108
Burchett (1973), p. 109
^ Burchett (1973), p. 110
Osborne (1994), p. 112
Osborne (1994), p. 115
Jeldres (2005), p. 61
Jeldres (2005), p. 62
Osborne (1994), p. 153
Peou (2000), p. 126
Peou (2000), p. 125
Burchett (1973), p. 133
Osborne (1994), p. 161
Burchett (1973), p. 137
^ Peou (2000), p. 124
^ Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 160
Burchett (1973), p. 139
Osborne (1994), p. 159
Osborne (1994), p. 166
Osborne (1994), p. 168
Cohen (1968), pp. 16-7
Osborne (1994), p. 190
^ Osborne (1994), p. 193
Osborne (1994), p. 194
Cohen (1968), pp. 24-5
Cohen (1968), p. 26
^ Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 162
Osborne (1994), p. 195
Osborne (1994), p. 204
Osborne (1994), p. 206
Osborne (1994), p. 210
Jeldres (2005), p. 70
Osborne (1994), p. 211
Osborne (1994), p. 213
Burchett (1973), p. 50
Burchett (1973), p. 51
Jeldres (2005), p. 79
Osborne (1994), p. 219
Jeldres (2005), p. 137
Burchett (1973), p. 271
Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 167
Jeldres (2005), p. 178
Jeldres (2005), p. 183
Osborne (1994), p. 226
Osborne (1994), p. 229
Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 168
Jeldres (2005), p. 191
Osborne (1994), p. 231
Osborne (1994), p. 232
Osborne (1994), p. 233
Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 169
Osborne (1994), p. 234
Osborne (1994), p. 242
Jeldres (2005), p. 202
Jeldres (2005), pp. 205-6
Jeldres (2005), p. 207
Jeldres (2005), pp. 197-8
Jeldres (2005), p. 235
Jeldres (2005), p. 236
^ Osborne (1994), p. 251
Osborne (1994), p. 252
Mehta et al. (2013), pp. 154-5
Widyono (2008), p. 34
Post Staff (29 August 1989). "Final Cambodian talks under way". Lodi News-Sentinel. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
Osborne (1994), p. 255
Findlay (1995), p. 7
Findlay (1995), p. 9
Findlay (1995), p. 12
Findlay (1995), p. 15
Widyono (2008), p. 142
Widyono (2008), pp. 82-3
Widyono (2008), p. 84
Findlay (1995), p. 46
Findlay (1995), p. 86
Findlay (1995), pp. 56-7
Findlay (1995), pp. 2, 84
Widyono (2008), p. 124
Widyono (2008), p. 125
^ Findlay (1995), p. 93
Mehta et al. (2013), p. 231
Widyono (2008), p. 129
Osborne (1994), p. 261
Widyono (2008), p. 161
Findlay (1995), p. 97
Jeldres (2003), p. 11
Widyono (2008), pp. 1844-5
Mehta et al. (2013), p. 232
Mehta et al. (2013), p. 233
Widyono (2008), p. 162
Widyono (2008), p. 163
Nate Thayer (15 July 1994). "Frantic calls from Regent's Rm 406". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
Mehta et al. (2013), p. 246
Widyono (2008), pp. 184-5
Mehta et al. (2013), pp. 250-1
Widyono (2008), p. 216
Mehta et al. (2013), pp. 253
Widyono (2008), p. 215
Widyono (2008), p. 215
Widyono (2008), p. 223
Ker Munthit (21 March 1997). "Royal abdication threat ignites war of words". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
Widyono (2008), p. 258
Widyono (2008), p. 259
Widyono (2008), p. 263
Post Staff (11 August 1997). "Cambodian King Sihanouk offers to abdicate". CNN. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
Summers (2003), p. 238
Widyono (2008), pp. 167-8
Imran Vittachi (16 May 1997). "King muzzles the 'Smile of the month'". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Mehta et al. (2013), p. 302
Vong Sokheng (5 July 2002). "Succession issue troubles King". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
Vong Sokheng and Robert Carmichael (27 September 2002). "King mulls abdication". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
Chin (2005), p. 115
Susan Front, Sam Rith and Chhim Sopheark (29 August 2003). "Council rejects complaints by SRP, Funcinpec". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
YUN SAMEAN AND LOR CHANDARA (17 September 2003). "King Won't Convene New Parliament". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
LOR CHANDARA AND WENCY LEUNG (19 September 2003). "King Advised To Convene Parliament". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
Yun Samean (6 October 2003). "King Swears In Legislators Despite Standoff". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
Chin (2005), pp. 117, 119, 127
Widyono (2008), p. 277
Chin (2005), pp. 119-120
Widyono (2008), p. 278
Post Staff (22 October 2004). "Milestones in the life of King Norodom Sihanouk". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Liam Cochrane (5 November 2004). "Sihamoni crowned new King". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Liam Cochrane (5 November 2004). "Sihamoni crowned new King". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Vong Sokheng (1 July 2005). "Border Affairs Council no match for the Strongman". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Vong Sokheng and Liam Cochrane (21 October 2005). "Border treaty sparks backlash, arrests". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
^ Yun Samean and Emily Lodish (31 August 2007). "Gov't Rejects Call To Investigate King Father". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
Erika Kinetz and Yun Samean (31 August 2007). "Retired King Invites ECCC Staff to Palace". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
Erik Wasson and Yun Samean (6 September 2007). "UN Won't Attend Retired King's KR Discussion". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Post Staff (9 July 2008). "Unofficial Translation from French–Communique from Norodom Sihanouk". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Post Staff (20 August 2009). "Sihanouk feeling well". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
Vong Sokheng (31 October 2011). "Return of the king". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
Chun Sakada (19 January 2012). "Former King Sihanouk in China for More Healthcare". VOA Khmer. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
Post Staff (9 January 2012). "Cambodia's Sihanouk requests cremation". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
Meas Sokchea (28 September 2012). "Beijing birthday bash for King Father". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
David Boyle (15 October 2012). "King Father Norodom Sihanouk passed away". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
AKP Phnom Penh (15 October 2012). "King and PM Depart for Beijing". Agence Kampuchea Press. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
AKP Phnom Penh (17 October 2012). "Cambodian People Flood to Receive King-Father's Body". Agence Kampuchea Press. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ Cheang, Sopheng (15 October 2012). "Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk dies at 89". NBC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
"Cambodia expresses grieves at the death of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk". China News. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
CHEANG, SOPHENG. "Cambodians line streets to see ex-king's body". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
http://news.yahoo.com/cambodia-mourns-king-father-sihanouk-cremated-065408963.html
"Cambodia Unveils Statue of Former King Norodom Sihanouk". VOA Khmer. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
^ Erika Kinetz and Kay Kimsong (31 October 2006). "WATCHING BETWEEN THE FRAMES–The Retired King's Films May Be More Message Than Medium" (PDF). The Cambodia Daily. p. 5. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
^ Baumgärtel (2006), p. 11
Osborne (1994), p. 177
Osborne (1994), p. 178
Osborne (1994), pp. 180, 183
^ Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 163
Osborne (1994), p. 183
Wemaere (2013), p. 13, 54
Baumgärtel (2006), p. 2
^ Erik Wasson and Prak Chan Thul (31 October 2006). "BACKING THE ROYAL BALLADEER His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk's Violinist Is a King Among Fiddlers" (PDF). The Cambodia Daily. p. 6. Retrieved 9 July 2015. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 28 (help)
LinDa Saphan. "Norodom Sihanouk and the political agenda of Cambodian music, 1955–1970 (The Newsletter | No.64 | Summer 2013)" (PDF). International Institute for Asian Studies. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
MICHELLE VACHON (17 October 2012). "Norodom Sihanouk—The End of an Era". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
Marlay and Neher (1999), p. 164
Widyono (2008), p. 157
Osborne (1994), p. 3
Matthews (1999), p. 23
Osborne (1994), p. 92
Boletín Oficial del Estado
Royal Ark
"CAMBOA19". Royalark.net. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

Bibliography

Books

Burchett, William G. and Norodom, Sihanouk (1973). My War with the CIA: Cambodia's fight for survival. United States of America: Penguin Books. ISBN 0140216898.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Chin, Kin Wah (2005). Southeast Asian Affairs 2005. National University of Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9812303065.
Findlay, Trevor (1995). Cambodia – The Legacy and Lessons of UNTAC–SIPRI Research Report No. 9 (PDF). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Solna, Sweden: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198291868.
Jeldres, Julio A (2003). The Royal House of Cambodia. Phnom Penh Cambodia: Monument Books. OCLC 54003889.
Jeldres, Julio A (2005). Volume 1–Shadows Over Angkor: Memoirs of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. Phnom Penh Cambodia: Monument Books. ISBN 974926486X.
Marlay, Ross and Neher, Clark D. (1999). Patriots and Tyrants: Ten Asian Leaders. Lanham, Maryland, United States of America: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0847684423.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Matthews, Peter (1999). The Guinness Book of Records. Guinness Records. ISBN 0965238393. {{cite book}}: Text "locationUnited States of America" ignored (help)
Mehta, Harish C. & Julie B. (2013). Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd. ISBN 9814484601.
Osborne, Milton E (1994). Sihanouk Prince of Light, Prince of Darkness. Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-1639-1.
Peou, Sorpong (2000). Intervention and Change in Cambodia: Towards Democracy?. National University of Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9812300422.
Summers, Laura (2003). The Far East and Australasia 2003. New York, United States of America: Psychology Press. pp. 227–243. ISBN 1857431332.
Widyono, Benny (2008). Dancing in Shadows: Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge, and the United Nations in Cambodia. Lanham, Maryland, United States of America: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0742555534.

Reports

Baumgärtel, Tilman (2010). "KON - The Cinema of Cambodia" (PDF). Department of Media and Communication–Royal University of Phnom Penh. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
Cohen, Arthur (9 April 1968). "Intelligence Report–Ten Years of Chinese Communist Foreign Policy" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency (Directorate of Intelligence). Retrieved 18 June 2015.
Wemaere, Séverine (Managing Director) (1 June 2013). "Memory! International Film Heritage Festival" (PDF). Technicolor Film Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2015.

External links

Regnal titles
Preceded bySisowath Monivong	King of Cambodia 1941–1955	Succeeded byNorodom Suramarit
Preceded byChea Sim (Chairman of the Council of State)	King of Cambodia 1993–2004	Succeeded byNorodom Sihamoni
Political offices
Preceded byNew office	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1945	Succeeded bySon Ngoc Thanh
Preceded byYem Sambaur	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1950	Succeeded bySisowath Monipong
Preceded byHuy Kanthoul	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1952–1953	Succeeded byPenn Nouth
Preceded byChan Nak	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1954	Succeeded byPenn Nouth
Preceded byLeng Ngeth	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1955–1956	Succeeded byOum Chheang Sun
Preceded byOum Chheang Sun	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1956	Succeeded byKhim Tit
Preceded byKhim Tit	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1956	Succeeded bySan Yun
Preceded bySan Yun	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1957	Succeeded bySim Var
Preceded bySim Var	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1958–1960	Succeeded byPho Proeung
Preceded byNorodom Suramarit	Head of State of Cambodia 1960–1970	Succeeded byCheng Heng
Preceded byPenn Nouth	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1961–1962	Succeeded byNhiek Tioulong
Preceded bySak Sutsakhan	President of the State Presidium 1975–1976	Succeeded byKhieu Samphan

v t e Prime ministers of Cambodia (list)
Kingdom of Kampuchea (1945)	Norodom Sihanouk Son Ngoc Thanh
French Protectorate (1945–1953)	Sisowath Monireth Sisowath Youtevong Sisowath Watchayavong Chhean Vam Penn Nouth Yem Sambaur Norodom Sihanouk Sisowath Monipong Oum Chheang Sun Huy Kanthoul
Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)	Penn Nouth Chan Nak Norodom Sihanouk Leng Ngeth Khim Tit San Yun Sim Var Ek Yi Oun Pho Proeung Nhiek Tioulong Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum Norodom Kantol Lon Nol Son Sann
Khmer Republic (1970–1975)	Lon Nol Sisowath Sirik Matak Son Ngoc Thanh Hang Thun Hak In Tam Long Boret
Democratic Kampuchea (1975–1979)	Penn Nouth Khieu Samphan Nuon Chea Pol Pot
People's Republic of Kampuchea and State of Cambodia (1979–1993)	Pen Sovan Chan Sy Hun Sen
Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present)	Norodom Ranariddh Ung Huot Hun Sen Hun Manet
acting

Template:Persondata

Categories:

Misplaced Pages