AFP & Asia One
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012
BEIJING - The body of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk
began a final journey home Wednesday, as a plane bearing his coffin left
Beijing for Phnom Penh where crowds gathered for an emotional welcome.
A convoy of about 20 vehicles departed from Beijing Hospital, where
Sihanouk died of a heart attack on Monday, including a bus decorated
with yellow ribbons and flowers in which the coffin rested.
Chinese state television showed the convoy reaching Beijing's
airport after traversing normally busy highways that were cleared to
allow for its passage. A flight bearing the remains departed shortly
after, official media said.
Authorities in Cambodia said they expected 100,000 people to line
the streets of the capital Phnom Penh to honour Sihanouk, the
charismatic former monarch who is a revered figure in his homeland.
Crowds of mourners had already begun to gather in a park outside
the royal palace to mark the final homecoming of the man known as the
"King-Father", and began a week of official mourning.
"I hope to see the royal body, I want to see his face one last
time," said Mean Pichavisa, 16, as he sat outside the palace cutting up
black ribbons for his school friends to pin to their white shirts in a
traditional symbol of mourning.
The youngster, who shaved his head in honour of Sihanouk's
passing, said the late monarch's homecoming would be a "historic"
moment.
"I will remember this day until I die," he told AFP, as white-robed nuns chanted beside him.
His comments reflected many Cambodians' impressions of the king
as a benevolent leader who had his share of controversies but guided his
people through decades of turmoil including the nightmare of the Khmer
Rouge genocide.
Sihanouk, who died at the age of 89, ascended the throne in 1941
aged just 18. He was placed on the throne twice, abdicated twice and
also served variously as premier and head of state.
He stepped down as monarch in favour of his son Sihamoni in 2004 on the grounds of old age and poor health.
His corpse will lie in state at the royal palace in Phnom Penh
for three months before an elaborate funeral, according to the
government.
Sihanouk, who was close to Chinese revolutionary leaders Mao
Zedong and Zhou Enlai, fled to China amid the chaos that frequently
gripped his country and spent increasing amounts of time in the country
as his health failed.
The former king, who had battled illnesses including cancer,
diabetes and heart problems in his later years, remained a staunch
supporter of China. He saw it as a "second home" and spent much of his
time in the country, accompanied by his devoted sixth wife Monique.
Current king Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen had both arrived in Beijing earlier to collect the body.
Dai Bingguo, China's top official on foreign relations, will
accompany the coffin back to Cambodia, according to a statement from the
Chinese foreign ministry.
Chinese state media published photos showing flags at Tiananmen Square had been lowered to half-mast in honour of Sihanouk.
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