Cambodia mourns as 'King-Father' Sihanouk cremated
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Fireworks explode at the site of cremation for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday, Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Cambodian mourners cry as smoke rises out from the roof the crematorium during the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of the late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Fireworks are lit at the crematorium to mark the beginning of the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of Cambodia's late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Cambodian mourners cry as smoke rises out from the roof the crematorium during the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of the late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Cambodian mourners cry and pray outside a crematorium as the late King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
People are silhouetted against the crematorium where Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated, in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Cambodian mourners cry and pray outside a crematorium as the late King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Fireworks explode next to a poster of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk as his body is cremated in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Fireworks and smoke surround the crematorium site where Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk rests, in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
The crematorium site for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is seen at dusk in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (center right), son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, and his mother, Queen Norodom Monineath (center left) with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (covering his mouth) leave the crematorium where the body of the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk rests in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
-
Fireworks explode over the Tonle Sap River for the cremation of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday, Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Fireworks explode at the site of cremation for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday, Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Cambodian mourners cry as smoke rises out from the roof the crematorium during the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of the late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Fireworks are lit at the crematorium to mark the beginning of the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of Cambodia's late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cambodian mourners cry as smoke rises out from the roof the crematorium during the cremation where a coffin bearing the remains of the late King Norodom Sihanouk is placed, near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cambodian mourners cry and pray outside a crematorium as the late King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
People are silhouetted against the crematorium where Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated, in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Cambodian mourners cry and pray outside a crematorium as the late King Norodom Sihanouk is cremated in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Fireworks explode next to a poster of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk as his body is cremated in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Fireworks and smoke surround the crematorium site where Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk rests, in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
The crematorium site for Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk is seen at dusk in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (center right), son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, and his mother, Queen Norodom Monineath (center left) with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (covering his mouth) leave the crematorium where the body of the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk rests in Phnom Penh, on Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Fireworks explode over the Tonle Sap River for the cremation of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday, Feb 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
PHNOM PENH (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital on Monday for the cremation of former King Norodom Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father", who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the South-east Asian nation for more than half a century.
Cambodians from across the country flocked to Phnom Penh to pay their last respects as King Sihanouk was given elaborate funeral rites - mingling Hindu, Buddhist and animist traditions - last seen 53 years ago with the death of his father, King Norodom Suramarit. And they may never be seen again in a rapidly modernising country where the monarchy has lost much of its power and glamor.
After sunset, King Sihanouk's son, King Norodom Sihamoni, and widow, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, both weeping, ignited the funeral pyre inside a temple-like, 15-storey-high crematorium. Howitzers fired salvos as fireworks lit up the sky.
"I would exchange my life for his if he could live because he was a great leader who brought peace, prosperity for the whole nation," said Mr Pal Hor, an ailing, 64-year-old man who had come from the distant province of Battambang. He said he shaved his head out of reverence for the deceased monarch.
