A convoy transporting the coffin of late former king Norodom Sihanouk passes by the monument of independence in Phnom Penh Photo: AFP
Publish By Thomas Whittle
Updated 26/01/2013
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 — Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on
Friday released a list of foreign leaders who will attend the royal
cremation ceremony of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk on Feb. 4 in
the Cambodian capital.
Among them are Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, French Prime
Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung,
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing
Thammavong, Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar C. Binay, and
Japan’s Prince Akishino, among others.
According to a ministry statement, Jia Qinglin, Jean-Marc Ayrault and
Prince Akishino will be received in separate royal audience by
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath at
the Royal Palace.
Sihanouk died of illness at the age of 90 in Beijing on Oct. 15, last
year. Currently, his body is lying in state at the Royal Palace for the
public to pay tribute.
The body will be moved from the Royal Palace to a custom-built
crematorium at the Veal Preah Meru Square next to the Palace on Feb. 1
and kept for another three days at the site before it is cremated on
Feb. 4.
Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu
Kanharith said last week that at least 1.5 million people are expected
to attend the ceremony.
A security force of about 11,000 will be deployed in the capital to
ensure security and public order during the ceremony, said Lt. Gen. Kirt
Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has said it will be the kingdom’s largest
funeral to express the deepest gratitude to the King Father for his
royal crusade to gain independence from France in 1953 and lead national
construction from 1954 to 1970.
Sihanouk suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and
hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for
years before his death.
He wrote in a royal letter in January 2012 that he requested his body
to be cremated instead of being buried and his ashes to be put in an
urn, preferably made of gold, and placed in a stupa at the Royal Palace.
3 comments:
His revolutionary friends , Fiedel Castro cannot come- busy
preparing his own funeral . Khiev Samphan , Nuon Chea
& Ing Sary names are not on the (CPP) list . Than Swe is
unable to get out from his virtual house arrest . Hun Neang
doesn't want to go because no booze allowed - he cannot
bear to watch the cremation when he is not drunk . And last
but not least , Chea Sim will watch the cremation on TV in
his bedroom .
Yes,u r right! Chea sim thought in his mind that will these people come to his funeral when to see Ho chi Minh? He knew his time is coming sooner...Yummareaj already made reservation for him in Hell he knew that.
Where is the representative from India!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????? This is not right!!!! India NEEDS to send at least 1 representative to view the cremation ceremony of King Father Sihanouk. The Cambodian bond with India established since the ancient times and through the ages especially during the life time of King Sihanouk REQUIRES that India must send her representatives to the ceremony. India is very much a relative of Cambodia. If India does not even recognize this, then this simply is a sad case of relatives gone separate ways.
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