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Cambodia's king announces abdication
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-07 17:06
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, citing poor health, and asked
the country to begin searching for his successor, the head of the National
Assembly said Thursday.
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk (L) and Queen
Norodom Monineth attend a reception in Beijing September 30, 2004.
Sihanouk, now 81, abdicated on Thursday, his son said. The picture was
taken on September 30, 2004. [Reuters] |
Sihanouk, 81, announced his retirement in a letter which his son, Prince
Norodom Ranariddh, read to the legislature Thursday.
"According to the statement that I have received and just read, His Majesty
has already abdicated," Ranariddh told reporters, adding that the news was "very
regrettable and shocking for all Cambodians who love him and regard him as
sacred."
Ranariddh said leaders of the ruling coalition planned "to beg" the king to
stay on as monarch. He said he had been granted permission to visit his father
and would leave for Beijing Friday to hear "the reason behind His Majesty's
decision."
Earlier, Ranariddh said Prime Minister Hun Sen and acting head of state and
ruling party leader Chea Sim would also seek permission to visit the king, but
it was unclear whether they would join him Friday.
Hun Sen is in Viet Nam to attend a summit of Asian and European leaders.
The king cancelled his planned return to Cambodia, scheduled for Thursday,
Ranariddh said, adding that Sihanouk's abdication left Cambodia like "a family
where children have no father, a house without a roof."
Ranariddh said the king's decision was prompted by a letter he received from
opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who complained that his party was being unfairly
blamed for protests scheduled to coincide with the monarch's return to Cambodia.
But Sam Rainsy said his letter was not to blame.
The king in Cambodia is not a hereditary title, but all candidates must have
a royal bloodline. Ranariddh could be a candidate, but has already said he is
not interested.
Sihanouk has been an influential figure in Cambodian politics for more than
half a century, leading the country to independence from French colonialism in
the 1950s.
He left Cambodia in January after trying and failing to end the months of
political feuding.
The letter from the king asked the country to form a nine-member throne
council -- as set in Cambodian law -- to choose the next monarch. Hun Sen and
other political leaders would be included in the council.
A similar statement also appeared on Sihanouk's website, where he often posts
handwritten messages in French about current affairs. With that statement was a
September 4 letter jointly signed by Hun Sen and Ranariddh, who are partners in
the current government, proposing another prince, Norodom Sihamoni, as the
future king.
The king asked that he be allowed to step down because of his fragile health,
saying doctors have detected a "new and serious ailment" in his stomach. The
letter did not elaborate.
"I ask all compatriots to please allow me to retire," he said.
Chea Sim will remain the acting head of state until a new monarch is
selected.
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