បំណងប្រាថ្នារបស់ព្រះបរមរតនកោដ្ឋឱ្យខ្មែររួបរួមសាមគ្គីនិង ឯកភាពជាតិនៅមិនទា...

Khmer Circle:

It was due to Sihanouk's "wishful thinking" and or hopelessly misplaced faith in his expectation of "national reconciliation" that led to the end of democratic opposition in Cambodia. He even asked the UN to withdraw its post-Untac missions in the country while the Vietnamese and their puppets were plotting to kill off all remnants or traces of Khmer nationalism or any prospect of national unity.

Needless to say, "national solidarity" through reconciliation - Sihanouk's dream in his twilight years - means consolidating Hanoi-backed Hun Sen faction within the CPP in uncontested power and thus zero room for Khmer nationalists. Nothing could be clearer than the regime's fondness for labelling anyone who wants to rectify any social ill in Cambodia today as "rebel" and "traitor"; and they don't have to be affiliated with the now dissolved CNRP either!

In a way, this kind of reflections and sermons are true to Sihanouk's unfilial character - a trait of the late monarch himself as noted by his cousin and Republican protagonist, prince Sisowath Sirikmatak. Lest we also forget, Sihanouk had also denounced the Vietnamese - yuons - as ungrateful "crocodiles" who repay kindness with ingratitude and hostility, whilst he had actively facilitated their scheme by knowingly leading millions of his people into their jaws!

The example offered by Germany and France - former enemies - who have learned to co-exist since the end of WWII is another of Sihanouk's far-fetched dream model for his country being able to live peacefully and with mutual respect alongside those "crocodiles" in the East. Alas, dreams are sometimes destined to remain just that: dreams.