Stephanie Scawen has spent more than a decade covering stories from across Asia.
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| Sihanouk abdicated in 2004 after ruling for six decades [Reuters] |
A send-off for a king like no other. A 3,000-strong
procession, numerous floats of mythical animal, bands, monks and nuns wound its
way through the centre of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh with the golden
casket containing the body of King Sihanouk at its head.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to bid a
final farewell to the man who led the country to independence in 1953.
His nephew and former personal assistant Prince
Sisowath Thomico told me though: “When the King Father passed away, and the
Cambodian people gathered to attend the procession [from the airport], they
didn’t think about politics, didn’t think about independence, they only thought
about the love King Sihanouk bestowed to them and gave to them. They just
wanted to show they loved him the way he loved them and this is his legacy.”
A larger-than-life ruler, politician and head of state
for more than 60 years, Cambodia will sorely miss his presence in the life of
the country.
In contrast his son Sihamoni – the present king, on the
throne since his father’s abdication in 2004 – has steered away from the
political life Sihanouk relished.
Prince Thomico told me: “He hates politics! King
Sihanouk was the last God king and King Sihamoni is the first constitutional
king of Cambodia. As such I think he will lead Cambodian monarchy toward other
monarchies like the monarchy of Belgium, the British, Scandinavian monarchy,
where the king reigns but doesn’t rule.”
How Sihanouk would have viewed his public send-off is
anyone’s guess. In his younger years he was something of a playboy marrying six
times and fathering 14 children – five of whom died during the Khmer Rouge era.
But in 2009 he published a letter on his website pleading for people not to
keep wishing him “Long Live the King” as he had no desire to live for ever.
He returned to Beijing for more medical treatment as
his health faded, but sadly never made it back home again.
An era has ended in Cambodia.
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