Sihanouk Reminisced About The Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime

(Photo: Sihanouk (L), Roland Dumas, Hun Sen in 1987)


King-Father reminisces about the patriotism of the royal crusadeFriday, October 19, 2007Kampuchea Thmey newspaperTranslated from Khmer by Socheata from Ki-Media

Former monarch, King Norodom Sihanouk, reminisced about the royal crusade to reclaim back some of the (Cambodian) lands which were lost, and he also praised the CPP as being the successor of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (SRN) party.During a gift distribution ceremony to poor people from Preah Vihear province, held inside the royal palace, which was broadcasted on TVK in the evening of 17 October, King-Father talked about the efforts he undertook (to reclaim Cambodia’s lands?) since the age of 18, and that he was (also) able to demand back the land lost in the Preah Vihear temple following the decision in the court case by The Hague International Court of Justice.In 1947, King Norodom Sihanouk was successful in demanding back the province of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri after these provinces were lost for several years already. In 1962, then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk won the case at The Hague International Court of Justice, and reclaimed back the Preah Vihear temple also.The Hero-King said: “We had the historical honor to accomplish these feats for our country. I have the extreme honor to historically build for the nation: the national integrity of the kingdom of Cambodia.”The former monarch failed to mention his patriotism in his demand for the national independence of Cambodia from France in 1953.In his royal speech, King-Father also raised about the current national development under the leadership of Samdach Akkak Moha Senapadei Decho Hun Sen and the CPP.King-Father said that under the extremely astute leadership of Samdach Hun Sen – the successor of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum’s regime led by King-Father who protected the nation and the national integrity – the country is at peace and is very developed. King-Father said: We will unite with each other for eternity as a single family.Very often, during various official ceremonies (presided by King-Father), (the name of) Samdach Hun Sen was brought up because of the development of the nation during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (SRN) under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, and (the former monarch) always noted that the current Cambodia government is the successor of the SRN also.