Fa<strong>th</strong>er and Son The relationship between <strong>King</strong> <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihamoni and <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihanouk <strong>King</strong> <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihamoni bows in respect to his fa<strong>th</strong>er, former <strong>King</strong> <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihanouk, during his coronation ceremony on Oct. 24, 2004. 8 MAY 14, 2012 Reuters
Siv Channa The <strong>King</strong>’s fa<strong>th</strong>er, <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihanouk, speaks on <strong>th</strong>e occasion of his bir<strong>th</strong>day on Oct. 11 wi<strong>th</strong> his son, <strong>King</strong> <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihamoni, and Queen Moninea<strong>th</strong> seated next to him. By Kate Bartlett <strong>th</strong>e cambodia daily The first four letters of his fa<strong>th</strong>er’s name and <strong>th</strong>e first four letters of his mo<strong>th</strong>er’s name combined make up his own unique first name—Sihamoni—who has always been a favorite of his fa<strong>th</strong>er’s despite some obvious differences in character. Shakespeare wrote “it is a wise fa<strong>th</strong>er who knows his own child,” and while some Palace watchers had <strong>th</strong>ought his politically active halfbro<strong>th</strong>er Prince <strong>Norodom</strong> Ranariddh was a more obvious choice for <strong>th</strong>e <strong>th</strong>rone, Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk favored Prince Sihamoni as his successor as <strong>King</strong> precisely because he was not part of <strong>th</strong>e political sphere. <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni has had an apolitical profile whereas <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> Fa<strong>th</strong>er has held a towering place in Cambodia’s political history. And <strong>th</strong>ere are many o<strong>th</strong>er differences between fa<strong>th</strong>er and son, including <strong>th</strong>e many-times married Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk and his son’s confirmed bachelor status, as well as <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihanouk’s effusive, opinionated eruptions on every<strong>th</strong>ing from poverty to corruption in contrast to his son’s low-key approach to matters of state. Last year, Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk reflected on his son’s bachelor status. All Cambodia’s ancient kings had been polygamous, he noted, and even in <strong>th</strong>e modern era <strong>King</strong>s <strong>Norodom</strong> and Sisowa<strong>th</strong> had had hundreds of consorts. “Our current <strong>King</strong> <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihamoni, has nei<strong>th</strong>er ‘spouse,’ not ‘mistress’ nor ‘feminine adventure,’” <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> Fa<strong>th</strong>er observed. But, <strong>th</strong>e two share more <strong>th</strong>an blood and <strong>th</strong>e first four letters of <strong>th</strong>eir names. While <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> Fa<strong>th</strong>er has always been a lover of all <strong>th</strong>ings French and his son studied Western classical ballet in Prague, <strong>th</strong>ey have in common a deep appreciation for <strong>th</strong>e arts, and particularly for music, dance and film. Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk made 27 films, some of which he starred in himself, and some of which he cast his son in; at 14, <strong>Norodom</strong> Si- hamoni starred in “The Little Prince.” When he joined his fa<strong>th</strong>er in Nor<strong>th</strong> Korea years later, <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni attended film school. Having moved to Paris in <strong>th</strong>e 1980s, <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni became a professor of classical dance, made several films wi<strong>th</strong> a dance focus, and in 1993 became Cambodia’s ambassador to Unesco. Since <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni’s ascent to <strong>th</strong>e <strong>th</strong>rone in 2004, <strong>Norodom</strong> Sihanouk has spoken publicly about his favorite--and only surviving-son by Queen Moninea<strong>th</strong> several times, sometimes defending him against criticism, o<strong>th</strong>er times making allusions to his personal life. The two share more <strong>th</strong>an blood and <strong>th</strong>e first four letters of <strong>th</strong>eir names...<strong>th</strong>ey have in common a deep appreciation for <strong>th</strong>e arts. In 2005, after an opposition lawmaker called on <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni to play a more active role in <strong>th</strong>e nation’s political life, <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> Fa<strong>th</strong>er posted a letter of reply on his website—where he frequently posts his observations or grievances on matter of state and <strong>th</strong>e world. SRP lawmaker Son Chhay had in his letter called on <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni to “advise leaders including Hun Sen to help improve” <strong>th</strong>e political situation in <strong>th</strong>e country. The Retired <strong>King</strong>’s riposte was classic Sihanouk. “I would like to reply to Your Excellency on behalf of my son <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong>. I would like you to understand <strong>th</strong>at <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> has done his best but wi<strong>th</strong> no success,” <strong>th</strong>e retired <strong>King</strong> wrote wi<strong>th</strong>out elaborating. Observers share <strong>th</strong>e opinion <strong>th</strong>at Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk was more outspoken on politics <strong>th</strong>an his son, but <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni’s softer approach to statesmanship should not be misinterpreted. In a leaked diplomatic cable from <strong>th</strong>e U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, embassy staff noted <strong>th</strong>at after Sihamoni’s selection as successor to <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong>: “Sihanouk will now likely work behind <strong>th</strong>e scenes to train Sihamoni and keep his hand in politics. “P.M. Hun Sen supported <strong>th</strong>e choice (of Sihamoni as <strong>King</strong>), perhaps because Sihamoni is apolitical and believed to be relatively pliable,” <strong>th</strong>e cable continued. The diplomatic dispatch went to on note <strong>th</strong>at: “Many had long speculated <strong>th</strong>at Ranariddh...would be <strong>th</strong>e logical choice for <strong>King</strong>. However, Sihanouk has had a rancorous relationship wi<strong>th</strong> Ranariddh for years. Sihanouk may have worried <strong>th</strong>at having such an overtly political son as <strong>King</strong> would put <strong>th</strong>e monarchy itself in danger. “But, most important, Sihanouk is devoted to Queen Moninea<strong>th</strong>, and, <strong>th</strong>erefore, has long expressed support for his son by her.... The selection of Sihamoni no doubt took greater urgency for <strong>th</strong>e Queen wi<strong>th</strong> <strong>th</strong>e untimely dea<strong>th</strong> of her o<strong>th</strong>er son by Sihanouk, Prince Narindrapong [in 2003].” Retired <strong>King</strong> Sihanouk has long posted letters on his website from his childhood friend and pen-pal Ruom Ritt, who lives in <strong>th</strong>e Pyrenees, <strong>th</strong>ough some have suggested <strong>th</strong>at Mr. Ritt is a non-de-plume <strong>th</strong>at once allowed <strong>th</strong>e <strong>King</strong> Fa<strong>th</strong>er to speak his mind more freely about <strong>th</strong>e pressing issues of <strong>th</strong>e day. Before promising to never write again several years ago, Ruom Ritt’s letters had evoked particular ire from Prime Minister Hun Sen. Then in 2004, a “Ruom Ritt Jr.,” writing from Prague emerged, vowing to write to <strong>th</strong>e new <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni. He said he had met <strong>King</strong> Sihamoni while he was studying abroad, and indicated <strong>th</strong>at he would be as critical of Cambodia’s leaders as Ruom Ritt Sr, saying: “The Powerful who <strong>th</strong>ink only of <strong>th</strong>emselves, <strong>th</strong>e Poor who attempt to survive and Your Family who is haunted by a past <strong>th</strong>at is no longer.” The CAmbodiA dAily 9
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