DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Sihanouk’s body arrives in Cambodia on Chinese special plane+” plus 8 more |
- Sihanouk’s body arrives in Cambodia on Chinese special plane+
- Chinese state councilor escorts ex-Cambodian king's coffin to return home
- Body of ex-King Sihanouk arrives in Cambodia
- Chinese state councilor to escort home coffin of Cambodia's former King
- Cambodia cancels annual Water Festival to mourn King-Father Sihanouk
- Top Chinese legislator, political advisor mourn death of Cambodia's former King
- About 100,000 Cambodian mourners to receive Sihanouk's body
- Mourners lay flowers, pray for deceased King-Father Sihanouk
- Norodom Sihanouk: An old friend of China
| Sihanouk’s body arrives in Cambodia on Chinese special plane+ Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:42 AM PDT PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 Kyodo - The body of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk arrived in Phnom Penh on Wednesday afternoon on a special plane provided by traditional ally China, while a huge number of mourners turned out to mark the former monarch's final homecoming. Escorting the coffin in the plane from Beijing were Sihanouk's widow Monineath, who is known as Queen Mother, as well as his son King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, both of whom flew to the Chinese capital within hours of his death Monday to bring his body home. Upon the body's arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, a lavish ceremony began with monks chanting as ordinary Cambodians and hundreds of government officials and diplomats awaited the unloading of the coffin. More than 100,000 Cambodians wearing white shirts with black ribbons and black trousers or skirts lined the streets from the airport to the Royal Palace where the body will be taken. As traditional music played, Sihanouk's body was moved from the plane to a special car decorated with a gilded swan's head that joined in an entourage with two other special cars, one with a golden dragon's head, the other with a gilded lion's head for the trip to the palace. Sry Thamarong, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen told Kyodo News that about 50 Chinese officials, including State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Ying, escorted the coffin on the special plane along with the Cambodian premier, Queen Mother Monineath and King Sihamoni. People in the city have flocked to the markets to buy flowers and portraits of Sihanouk, who died at 89 of a heart attack in Beijing, where he had been undergoing medical treatment since January. Cambodians have been advised to observe a week of official mourning from Wednesday to mark the death of the "King Father," who is not only the father of the current king but is also regarded as the "father of independence, unity and national reconciliation." Sihanouk, who led Cambodia to independence in 1953 and ruled it, in reality or nominally, under various titles for much of its post-colonial existence, abdicated as king in 2004. To "respect the spirit" of the late former king, the government announced late Tuesday its decision to cancel the annual water festival scheduled for Nov. 27-29 in Phnom Penh. The festival will still be held in the provinces, but on a smaller scale than it is usually held in the capital. Other crowded entertainment events have also been advised to scale down for up to three months as the government makes preparations for the cremation of the former king's body in a major ceremony to be held in front of the National Museum, next to the Royal Palace. During this period, the body will be displayed inside the Royal Palace for those who want to pay their respects personally, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told Kyodo News. No date has yet been set for the cremation ceremony or state funeral, but the government has established an organizing committee that includes Hun Sen. It is to be the largest ceremony of its kind since 1960 when Sihanouk's father King Suramrith died. Following Sihanouk's death, many world leaders have sent letters of condolence, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, French President Francois Hollande, Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang. Local TV has been airing tributes to Sihanouk and repeatedly showing video of the courtesy calls made by Chinese leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, to Sihanouk's widow soon after her husband's death. ==Kyodo | |||
| Chinese state councilor escorts ex-Cambodian king's coffin to return home Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:33 AM PDT PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A special plane with Cambodian King-Father Norodom Sihanouk's coffin aboard arrived in the Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday afternoon. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who escorted the coffin on behalf of the Chinese government to Cambodia, and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived aboard the same plane. En route to Phnom Penh, Dai expressed condolences and sympathy to Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen again over the death of retired King Sihanouk. According to Dai, Sihanouk had made historic contribution to the growth of Sino-Cambodian relations and thus had a special place at the hearts of the Chinese people. Even in his last years, Sihanouk still took care of China's development. Dai recalled how he accompanied then 86-year-old King- Father Sihanouk at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. In recent years, he said, King-Father Sihanouk had donated time and again when China was hit by natural disasters. As late as last month, the King-Father donated to the quake-stricken areas in southwestern China. Dai said that the Chinese people will always remember his deeds, carry forward Sino-Cambodian friendship nurtured and cultivated by King-Father Sihanouk and Chinese leaders. Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed heart-felt gratitude to China for its careful arrangements after the death of King-Father Sihanouk. The Cambodian royal family, government and people will never forget the profound friendship of the Chinese government and people, they said. They said that China will always be the sincere friend of Cambodia. The Cambodian side will work with China to carry forward this traditional friendship. King-Father Sihanouk died of various diseases on Oct. 15 at the age of 89. His body will be lying in state for three months at the Royal Palace before cremation. An official mourning for the King-Father will be held for a week from Oct. 17 to 23. | |||
| Body of ex-King Sihanouk arrives in Cambodia Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:14 PM PDT PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The body of Cambodia's most revered ex-King Norodom Sihanouk arrived here from Beijing on Wednesday afternoon as the country officially began a week of mourning. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, former Queen Norodom Monineath, and Prime Minister Hun Sen brought home the former King's body. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo also escorted the coffin to Cambodia. At a traditional ceremony at the Phnom Penh International Airport, 90 Buddhist monks chanted to pray for the soul of the deceased King-Father before the convoy transported the ex-King's body to the Royal Palace, Chea Kean, deputy president of the Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals, told reporters. He said that over 100,000 Cambodian mourners flanked the 10-km road from the Phnom Penh International Airport to the Royal Palace in order to pay respect to the former King's body. Former King Norodom Sihanouk died on early Monday due to natural causes at the age of 90 in China's Beijing Hospital, according to a Cambodian government statement. He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years before his death. The government announced Monday that the official mourning for the King-Father will be held for a week from Oct. 17 to 23 and all flags are flying at half-mast. During the period, all forms of entertainment are prohibited. The King-Father's body will be lying in state for at least three months at the Royal Palace before it is cremated. Sihanouk reigned Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. | |||
| Chinese state councilor to escort home coffin of Cambodia's former King Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:25 PM PDT BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo will escort the coffin of Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia's former King, back to his home country Wednesday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the announcement early Wednesday morning. Sihanouk died of illness early Monday morning in Beijing at the age of 90. Born on Oct. 31, 1922, Sihanouk reigned over Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 till his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. | |||
| Cambodia cancels annual Water Festival to mourn King-Father Sihanouk Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:24 PM PDT PHNOM PENH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia announced the country will cancel the annual Water Festival to mourn late former King Norodom Sihanouk, according to a government statement released late Tuesday. "To mourn the ex-king, the government decided to suspend the celebration of Water Festival, which was planned to celebrate on Nov. 27-29 on Tonle Sap River in front of the Royal Palace," said the statement signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Despite the cancellation of the festival, civil servants, employees and workers still enjoy a three-day holiday on that occasion, it said. Water Festival is the largest annual festival in the Southeast Asian nation. Around 3 million Cambodians, especially those from rural areas, converge in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, to enjoy the regatta. It is the second consecutive year that the festival is canceled. Last year's cancellation was due to flood devastation, which killed at least 250 Cambodian people and affected some 1.4 million across the country. Former King Norodom Sihanouk died early Monday due to natural causes at the age of 90 in China's Beijing Hospital, according to a Cambodian government statement. He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years before his death. The government announced Monday that the official mourning period for the King-Father will be held for a week from Oct. 17-23, and his body will be exhibited at least 3 months at the Royal Palace before being cremated. Sihanouk reigned Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. | |||
| Top Chinese legislator, political advisor mourn death of Cambodia's former King Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:24 PM PDT
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo and top political advisor Jia Qinglin mourned the death of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Cambodian Embassy in Beijing on Tuesday. Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), expressed deep condolences on behalf of the NPC. Wu said Sihanouk was an outstanding leader of Cambodia's people as well as a great friend of the Chinese people, adding that the friendship created and cultivated by Sihanouk and the older generation of Chinese leaders was deeply rooted in the two peoples and yielded great results. He said China will work with Cambodia to push forward bilateral ties. Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), mourned Sihanouk's death on behalf of the CPPCC and conveyed his sympathies to the President of Cambodia's Senate Chea Sim. Jia also hailed Sihanouk's contributions to the people of Cambodia and to the bilateral friendship, saying Sihanouk will long be remembered by the Chinese people. He said he believes the bilateral friendship will see continuous development through the two sides' joint efforts. Upon arriving at the embassy, both Chinese leaders were silent and bowed three times in front of Sihanouk's portrait. They each signed the book of condolences. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol and Cambodian Ambassador Khek Caimealy Sysoda expressed gratitude for the condolences. Born on Oct. 31, 1922, Norodom Sihanouk reigned from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Sihamoni. He died of illness at the age of 90 early Monday morning. | |||
| About 100,000 Cambodian mourners to receive Sihanouk's body Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:22 PM PDT PHNOM PENH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Around 100,000 Cambodian people will flank the road from the Phnom Penh International Airport to the Royal Palace to solute the return of former King Norodom Sihanouk's body on Wednesday afternoon, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuk Tema said Tuesday. "They will line up along road sides from the airport to the Royal Palace in order to receive the King-Father's body from Beijing," he told reporters. Sihanouk died early Monday due to natural causes at the age of 90 in China's Beijing Hospital, according to the Cambodian government. He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated in Beijing for years. The government announced Monday that the official mourning period for the King-Father will last for a week from Oct. 17 to 23 with flags flying at half-mast and all entertainment being prohibited. The King-Father's body will be emplaced at the Royal Palace for at least 3 months for mourners to pay last respects before being cremated. Sihanouk reigned Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. | |||
| Mourners lay flowers, pray for deceased King-Father Sihanouk Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:22 PM PDT
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Throngs of Cambodian sympathizers have Tuesday laid roses and lotus flowers in front of the capital's Royal Palace to pray for King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, who died of natural causes Monday at the age of 90. Among the mourners, a 32-year-old garment employee Chhuon Chenda sobbed, shouting that "I Love My King." She said that the King-Father was the most revered monarch, who led the country to full independence and built numerous achievements for the nation in all domains. "If my life could be changed for his death, I would do," she said, adding that even in her Smartphone, she kept dozens of the King-Father's photographs. Former King Norodom Sihanouk died early Monday due to natural causes at the age of 90 in China's Beijing Hospital, according to a Cambodian government statement. He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years. Sihanouk reigned Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. "I am extremely sorry to hear that His Majesty Sihanouk died. I come here to pray for His Majesty to rest in peace," a 71-year-old woman Leang Hong said while she laid flowers in front of the Royal Palace. "In his life time, His Majesty had devoted his life to national defense and development." "He was the father of independence; he brought full independence for Cambodia in 1953," said a 30-year-old mourner Pang Sophea. Sihanouk's body is set to arrive in Phnom Penh from Beijing on Wednesday afternoon. The government announced Monday that the official mourning period for the King-Father will be held for a week from Oct. 17 to 23. During the period, all entertainment will be prohibited. The King-Father's body will be exhibited at least 3 months at the Royal Palace before being cremated.
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| Norodom Sihanouk: An old friend of China Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:20 PM PDT BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Norodom Sihanouk was born in Phnom Penh on October 31st, 1922. He is the son of King Norodom Suramarit. As the former King of Cambodia, he held many positions in his life and is considered to be a key figure in Cambodian politics for over six decades. He is also an old friend of China and made effort to develop and strengthen Cambodia-China relations. One month after China and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in July, 1958, Sihanouk led a delegation to visit China. He visited several provinces across the country, accompanied by Premier Zhou Enlai. At the same time, China launched an aid project to Cambodia. In April 1960, Sihanouk's father, King Norodom Suramarit died. Premier Zhou Enlai, on behalf of the Chinese government, went to Phnom Pehn to attend Suramarit's funeral. In December, Sihanouk, in his capacity as head of state paid a visit in Beijing with his wife, Princess Monineath. The two sides signed the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Non-Aggression. On March 19th, 1970, while Sihanouk was out of the country travelling, Prime Minister Lon Nol staged a coup, and deposed Sihanouk as head of state. China's Premier Zhou Enlai welcomed exiled Sihanouk to China and said the Chinese government would never recognize Lon Nol's regime. In 1975, Lon Nol stepped down, Sihanouk was allowed back in Cambodia in August. After that, he made effort to strenthen Sino-Cambodian relations and visited China many times. He also donated to China's areas affected by natural disaster. He gradually became the symbolic icon of the Chinese-Cambodian friendship. The former King and Queen had been invited by China to many major events. On April 30th, 1999, Sihanouk and his wife attended the opening ceremony of China's Kunming International Gardening Show. He also attended several activities of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. On the 60th founding anniversary of New China which was on October 1st, 2009, Sihanouk and his wife were invited to many celebration activities. Sihanouk has walked up the Tian An Men Gate Tower with Chinese leaders six times, which is the most compared with other foreign heads of state. (Source: CNTV.cn) |
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