| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, sort of |
| 2004-10-07 |
| Prince Norodom Ranariddh said Senate President Chea Sim would be interim head of state, but added that he hoped his father would change his mind. Cambodia's monarchy is not hereditary, and a special throne council is due to meet soon to discuss what happens next. The king, 81, has abdicated before and threatened to quit again many times. Ill health and political rows may have triggered the latest crisis. An emotional Prince Ranariddh announced his father's decision to the National Assembly on Thursday. "I hope this is not a permanent abdication," he said. Earlier the king, who has been living abroad and receiving medical treatment, issued a statement saying he was too ill and old to continue in office, and that he wished to abdicate. "It is up to the Royal Throne Council to decide whether Prince Sihamoni or who else will be an appropriate successor," the statement said. It was unclear what triggered the king's announcement, but there has been speculation he is angry about a lack of progress in deciding the process to decide his successor. According to media reports, his decision may also have been influenced by a letter he received from opposition leader Sam Rainsy. In it, Mr Rainsy claimed that "violent demonstrations (at least verbally)" against the king were planned for his return. Mr Rainsy said he would be blamed for them and that his party would be "hastily suppressed"... |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |