Posted on 10/06/2004 10:27:42 PM PDT by HAL9000
King Norodom Sihanouk is abdicating and wants the people of Cambodia - which does not have a hereditary monarchy - to begin a search for a successor, the head of the National Assembly said today.The king, who is in Beijing, made the announcement in a letter read to the National Assembly early today by his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is also head of the assembly. The news was "shocking and very regretful," the prince said.
The king asked the country to form a nine-member throne council to consider the next monarch, the statement said.
Although Cambodia's monarch is not selected according to heredity, the candidate must have a royal bloodline.
Prince Ranariddh has been considered a candidate for the throne in the past, but has said he is not interested in filling that role.
In a letter read on state television late yesterday, the king asked that he be allowed to "retire" because of his fragile health, saying that 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," the king's letter said, according to the television report.
I thought it was good to be the king?
I think Kerry was there long enough to gain citizenship.
Maybe is the whole President thing doesn't work out....
is=if
Who put the "ra" in the "ra-nar-ra-nar-riddh"?
And we thought it was a mess to hold a presidential election. Can you imagine trying to find someone to be King-yuck! My experience with government panels, they can hardly agree on whose going to cater lunch let alone a future monarch.
He may be taking a position with the Kerry campaign since it appears they retired Rassman.
"I think Kerry was there long enough to gain citizenship."
That's funny. You should get this comment (in context) to John O'Neill of the SwiftVets. I'll be he'd get a real kick out of it.
Anyone going there for Christmas this year?
He could be King Kerry of Kambodia. Good alliteration.
He is a bit of an eccentric type, he abdicated the the throne once before, and he also used to be a dreadful film director, yet, he always seemed to win top honors at the Phnom Phen film festivals....
I was in Siem Reap last November, its a beautiful place, and a damned interesting country, I enjoyed it very much.
Next time we'll see him will be on one of those "whatever happened to?" TV shows - he'll be out in front of his Floriduh tin shack on wheels, trimming the Astroturf.
Good to be young and a king, for sure!
gotta think these things through for maximum yuks before hitting Post.
If you go to Angkor Wat, and you know the right people, you can have an excellent party on top of the temple after sunset.
I live and work in Cambodia. Next time any Freepers are in town, let me know.
Doesn't Angelina Jolie live there now...
Hello, I know the place well myself.
Jolie has a house in the NW part of the country though very rarely visits. She was just offered honorary Cambodian citizenship by the PM.
Story about the King is pretty much to be expected. He's been threatening abdication for a number of years now. In addition, he rarely is in Cambodia spending most of his time at his palaces in China and North Korea.
Will see if he actually goes through with it...
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