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           Cambodia Mourns Former King Who Shaped Decades of History

   by Irwin Loy

   Cambodians awoke Monday to the news that their country's revered former
   king, Norodom Sihanouk, died overnight in Beijing. The 89-year-old
   leaves behind a colorful but tumultuous legacy.  To many Cambodians who
   mourned his death Monday, he will forever be remembered as the father
   of a nation.

   Sihanouk's death came amid one of the country's most important
   religious festivals, Pchum Ben, when Cambodians pay respect to their
   ancestors.

   At a pagoda in the capital, monks chanted while people made symbolic
   offerings of food to deceased relatives. Kong Sidoeun waited while his
   elderly mother prayed. He says the death of the man known to Cambodians
   as the "King-Father", came as a shock to his entire family.
   "I feel shock, and unbelievable ... our King-Father passed away. It's
   very, very sad. I read this information to my family, and my family, my
   mother, my relative very shocked," he said.

   For half a century, Cambodia's history was intertwined with Sihanouk's.
   He led the country to independence from France in 1953. But his public
   support of the Khmer Rouge, following the 1970 coup that unseated him,
   also bolstered support for the communist movement that would devastate
   the country five years later.

   Still, Sihanouk remains revered by many here. That is particularly true
   among older Cambodians, who associate him with the country's
   post-independence years.

   "I heard from my father, my mother and also I observed from the people,
   nationwide, they think during his period, under his control, the
   country is very developed. People live with safety during that time,"
   Sidoeun stated. "It mean that in the region, Cambodia is one of
   developed countries at that time so it's a very good achievement."

   At some government buildings in the capital, flags were flown at
   half-mast. Local television stations aired tributes to Cambodia's
   former king. Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith says Sihanouk
   ushered his nation into the modern world.

   "You know, when I was a young one. I used to quote his work. Now when I
   am old, the relationship is more than personal ... It's a great loss
   for the whole country," Kanharith added.

   Kanharith says officials are making preparations for a royal funeral.
   Sihanouk's son and the current monarch, King Norodom Sihamoni, flew to
   Beijing, along with Prime Minister Hun Sen, to repatriate the
   King-Father's remains.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-mourns-former-king-who-shape
   d-decades-of-history/1526586.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-mourns-former-king-who-shaped-decades-of-history/1526586.html