The Hindu : International : Sihamoni to succeed Sihanouk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 15, 2004

International

International

Sihamoni to succeed Sihanouk

PHNOM PENH, OCT. 14. Prince Norodom Sihamoni was named Cambodia's new King on Thursday, succeeding his father, Norodom Sihanouk, who stunned the country last week by announcing his abdication because of ill health. Prince Sihamoni, a former ballet dancer and cultural ambassador, was approved by a nine-member Throne Council, the panel said in a statement signed by its chairman and acting Head of State Chea Sim.

The statement did not say how many council members voted for the Prince, but two palace officials said on condition of anonymity that the vote was unanimous. The Throne Council ``has chosen Samdech Norodom Sihamoni as the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia,'' said the statement, issued after the panel had met for about half an hour. Prince Samdech is an honorific. Prince Sihamoni is with King Sihanouk in Beijing, where the monarch has been receiving medical treatment, and is expected to return to Cambodia with his father next Wednesday.

A coronation ceremony is planned for October 29, according to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Prince Sihamoni's half brother and head of the National Assembly.

Prince Sihamoni (51) has been an Ambassador to the U.N. cultural agency in Paris, and is the King's only surviving son by his Eurasian wife, Queen Monineath. Cambodia's monarchy is not hereditary and the King does not pick his successor, but King Sihanouk (81) made it clear he wanted Prince Sihamoni to be the King though his son previously had shown no interest in the throne.

Key political leaders — including Prince Ranariddh and the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, — had endorsed the choice. Influential Buddhist leaders had also expressed support for Prince Sihamoni. King Sihanouk announced last week that he was abdicating because of ill health.

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