Cambodia's 'last true king' | Bangkok Post: news

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Cambodian monarchy fading into history

Published: 2 Feb 2013 at 19.04
Online news: Asia

PHNOM PENH — When the flames at the cremation ground are quenched and Norodom Sihanouk's ashes scattered on Phnom Penh's riverfront, the Mekong River may well carry away Cambodia's last true king, a towering figure in a procession of more than 100 monarchs stretching back 2,000 years.

Thousands of mourners wait in line at the Royal Palace to pay their respects to the late former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh on Saturday. (AP Photo)

Today, Cambodia has a new king, but he holds little of the power that Sihanouk once wielded. Instead, a poor farmer's son and onetime communist commander, strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen, now occupies the dominant position that Sihanouk represented for years.

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oldexp
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Discussion 7 : 03 Feb 2013 at 02.287
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When I read the article the name Thaksin often came to my mind.
Easy to understand why Hun Sen and Thaksin are good buddies.

The comment from englishbob shows me that I am not alone.
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Les
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Discussion 6 : 02 Feb 2013 at 23.516
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Even though he was nothing more than a figurhead for the last decade, Sihanouk represented hope and all that was good in Cambodia. Hun Sen is nothing more than a Dictator/Gangster and present-day Cambodia is more like a 1950's Latin America Banana Republic. The death of Sihanouk is like the death of hope.
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sirius
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Discussion 5 : 02 Feb 2013 at 22.035
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There is so much wrong in this article from the beginning "wresting independence from France " to the end with its contradictions. Please people get the true facts and disregard this trash.
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charly12
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Discussion 4 : 02 Feb 2013 at 21.504
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Khun Benno, you've got to be kidding to think that Cambodia is better than Thailand.
If you read the above article carefully, you'll see that Hun Sen (prime minister) acts like he's the king. He' s holding absolute power with 5,000 body guards, there is no prime minister in TRUE democracy would do that and it's only a tip of iceberg with what's wrong with Cambodia today.
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englishbob
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Discussion 3 : 02 Feb 2013 at 21.123
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No-one can fail to see the parallels between Hun Sen and Thaksin. And more worryingly between Cambodia's present and Thailand's future.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 2 : 02 Feb 2013 at 20.112
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Sihanouk was a far from perfect man, but he was head and shoulders above Hun Sen. RIP
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benno
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Discussion 1 : 02 Feb 2013 at 19.561
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I think,now i have to move to cambodia...its now better than thailand
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