More pictures at Koh Santepheap.PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald)-The Vietnamese and Lao ambassadors to Cambodia as well as the local bureau chief for the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) have paid tribute to Chea Soth, the dean of the National Assembly and former deputy prime minister who died at the weekend.
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Chea Soth cremated at ceremony presided over by Heng Samrin and Hun Sen
Published: 25-Jan-12
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Veteran Cambodia People's Party (CPP) member and former deputy prime minister Chea Soth was cremated Wednesday at an emotional ceremony presided over by National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Accompanied by a military guard of honor, the national ceremony for the late privy councillor and dean of the National Assembly, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, was attended by hundreds of people in front of Wat Botum.
A long procession with Chea Soth's coffin arrived at the park in front of the temple around 8 a.m. with Chea Soth's family members and relatives along with a group of parliamentarians led by Say Chhum, second vice president of the National Assembly who also chairs the standing committee of the CPP Politburo.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, who is also interior minister, read condolences from King Norodom Sihamoni as well as King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who are both currently in Beijing with the King Mother.
"The death of His Excellency Chea Soth is the loss of a great son of the people and the Kingdom of Cambodia who was actively involved for the sake of the nation, religion and king," the monarch said.
The King Father described the death of Chea Soth, who was ranked eighth in CPP Politburo, as "the loss of a great son of the Cambodian people who made physical, mental and intellectual sacrifices for the sake of the motherland."
Fellow Politburo member Ney Pena, also a member of the National Assembly, described Chea Soth as "an outstanding party activist.
"Delegates are in mourning and deeply nostalgic over the loss of His Excellency Chea Soth who made every sacrifice for the sake of the nation, the people and Cambodian People's Party," he said.
In a keynote address before the cremation, Nguon Nhel recalled that Chea Soth joined the struggle for independence from France in 1949 before leaving Cambodia in 1954 to study in Vietnam.
The veteran revolutionary joined the movement against Pol Pot in 1978 and became a member of the reconstituted Khmer People's Revolutionary Party in 1981, later serving as ambassador to Vietnam, planning minister,deputy prime minister and ultimately privy councillor since 1992. He was also elected to four terms in the National Assembly.
"This is the last time that we, the peasants of the Cambodian People's Party, members of the National Assembly, Senate and Government along with Your Excellency's children and relatives, will ever be together,' Nguo Nhel said, his voice choking with emotion.
"In a few minutes, your body will disappear," he said. "What still remains and won't disappear are your courage, patriotism, patient struggle and huge achievements for society and the nation. We are all committed to extending and keeping alive forever your patriotic wisdom, heroism and experience."
The funeral pyre was lit by Heng Samrin, the former head of state who is now honorary chairman of the CPP.
Published: 25-Jan-12
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Veteran Cambodia People's Party (CPP) member and former deputy prime minister Chea Soth was cremated Wednesday at an emotional ceremony presided over by National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Accompanied by a military guard of honor, the national ceremony for the late privy councillor and dean of the National Assembly, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, was attended by hundreds of people in front of Wat Botum.
A long procession with Chea Soth's coffin arrived at the park in front of the temple around 8 a.m. with Chea Soth's family members and relatives along with a group of parliamentarians led by Say Chhum, second vice president of the National Assembly who also chairs the standing committee of the CPP Politburo.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, who is also interior minister, read condolences from King Norodom Sihamoni as well as King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who are both currently in Beijing with the King Mother.
"The death of His Excellency Chea Soth is the loss of a great son of the people and the Kingdom of Cambodia who was actively involved for the sake of the nation, religion and king," the monarch said.
The King Father described the death of Chea Soth, who was ranked eighth in CPP Politburo, as "the loss of a great son of the Cambodian people who made physical, mental and intellectual sacrifices for the sake of the motherland."
Fellow Politburo member Ney Pena, also a member of the National Assembly, described Chea Soth as "an outstanding party activist.
"Delegates are in mourning and deeply nostalgic over the loss of His Excellency Chea Soth who made every sacrifice for the sake of the nation, the people and Cambodian People's Party," he said.
In a keynote address before the cremation, Nguon Nhel recalled that Chea Soth joined the struggle for independence from France in 1949 before leaving Cambodia in 1954 to study in Vietnam.
The veteran revolutionary joined the movement against Pol Pot in 1978 and became a member of the reconstituted Khmer People's Revolutionary Party in 1981, later serving as ambassador to Vietnam, planning minister,deputy prime minister and ultimately privy councillor since 1992. He was also elected to four terms in the National Assembly.
"This is the last time that we, the peasants of the Cambodian People's Party, members of the National Assembly, Senate and Government along with Your Excellency's children and relatives, will ever be together,' Nguo Nhel said, his voice choking with emotion.
"In a few minutes, your body will disappear," he said. "What still remains and won't disappear are your courage, patriotism, patient struggle and huge achievements for society and the nation. We are all committed to extending and keeping alive forever your patriotic wisdom, heroism and experience."
The funeral pyre was lit by Heng Samrin, the former head of state who is now honorary chairman of the CPP.
2 comments:
This for sure cost taxpayer.
I believe so, Chea Soth's funeral look very grand and expensive so I think the government use the taxpayers money to foot the bill for this funeral. I think his family can afford his funeral because he was one of the corrupt officials when he was alive. Also, his funeral should not be this big, it should be a family affair.
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