KambodschaLogin

2004.10.15 Dancing prince now reluctant king

Kimina Lyall, Phnom Penh

CAMBODIA'S hastily convened Throne Council last night proclaimed King Norodom Sihanouk's youngest son, Norodom Sihamoni, the country's new king, thereby granting Sihanouk's dramatic plea to be allowed to retire.

The nine-member council selected Sihamoni, 51, after the former professional dancer's brother, Norodom Ranariddh, declared him the only candidate for the monarchy. But the new king will not return to Phnom Penh from Beijing until later this month, before his expected coronation on October 29.

According to Prince Ranariddh, Prince Sihamoni will be a reluctant monarch, and the two have spent the past week "begging" each other to take the throne.

The ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer has spent only a handful of years living in Phnom Penh and, until he travelled to Beijing last week after his father's attempted abdication, had based himself in Paris.

Most Cambodians know little about the man who is reportedly more interested in art than in politics.

But in recent years they have become used to having an absent king, as Sihanouk has spent much of his time receiving medical treatment in Beijing.

"I told him, 'my brother, my darling, if you don't become king there will be a problem', because (Prime Minister) Hun Sen clearly said he would not accept anyone else," Prince Ranariddh said yesterday, as he returned from a failed mission to Beijing to put off his father's abdication.

In appearing to select Prince Sihamoni, Cambodia's politicians have ignored the constitution "which says a king is on the throne for life" in order to ensure the peaceful transition of the crown in reverence to Sihanouk's wishes.

Under the constitution, the new monarch must be a descendant of one of two former kings but not necessarily the son of the current monarch.

Legislation to establish the Throne Council was rushed through this week after King Sihanouk, 81, said he was too sick and weak to continue on the throne.

Although there were a number of eligible contenders, Prince Ranariddh insisted Prince Sihamoni had the universal support of the council, which includes Mr Hun Sen, other senior politicians and the country's two most senior Buddhist monks.

The council can select a new king with a vote of a simple majority.

He said his father's actions were taken to ensure the continuance of the throne, in comments that appeared to support theories that King Sihanouk feared Mr Hun Sen would abolish the monarchy upon his death.


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 [pk]
 21.10.2004