Cambodia's former king Sihanouk dies in Beijing - Reuters [getdailynow.blogspot.com]
1 of 4. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R) and his father, former King Norodom Sihanouk, talk to media after arriving in Phnom Penh in this October 20, 2004 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Adrees Latif/Files
PHNOM PENH |
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk, a widely respected figure through decades of turmoil, died in Beijing on Monday, according to an announcement on national television. He was 89.
Sihanouk was a pre-eminent figure in Cambodia's history through a large part of the 20th century. He held considerable power in the 1950s and 1960s when, as a young, flamboyant ruler he held absolute authority and came to symbolize Cambodia.
He reigned over Cambodia from 1941-1955 and from 1993-2004.
Sihanouk died of natural causes in the early hours of Monday in a hospital in Beijing and his body would be returned to Cambodia for a funeral at the Royal Palace, the statement on national television said.
In the late 1960s, Sihanouk was powerless to stop his country's slide into the Vietnam War and the 1970s Khmer Rouge "killing fields", under which at least 1.8 million people died during Pol Pot's ultra-Maoist revolution.
He abdicated for the second time in 2004 to make way for his son, Norodom Sihamoni, and went to live in self-imposed exile in Beijing, where he had for years received medical treatment for cancer and diabetes, among other ailments.
After a long period of exile and a U.N.-brokered peace treaty that led to a shaky transition to democracy in the early 1990s, Sihanouk became a figurehead king with limited power. The fate of the monarchy, and the country, then rested with Hun Sen, the current prime minister.
Sihanouk was seen as a symbol of national reconciliation and unity when he retook the throne. Throughout his life he enjoyed the genuine affection of the majority of his people, particularly in the countryside, but he always had enemies in politics.
During a trip to Moscow in 1970 Sihanouk was ousted in a bloodless, right-wing coup led by General Lon Nol, who cranked up the war against Vietnamese and Cambodian communists.
Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge held Sihanouk prisoner in his own palace after their 1975 victory, which ushered in four years of brutality under which almost a quarter of the population died of starvation, disease, execution or torture.
Sihanouk lost five children and 14 grandchildren during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror.
He was forced back into an uneasy coalition with the Khmer Rouge after they were ousted in 1979.
Through the 1980s, the Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk's royalists battled Vietnamese troops and the Hanoi-backed government that Hun Sen eventually led.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said on Monday Sihamoni would fly to Beijing to collect his late father's body.
(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Paul Tait)
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Find More Cambodia's former king Sihanouk dies in Beijing - Reuters Issues Question by fmko ( 無神論者ã¯ç¥žã‚'知ã£ã¦ã„ãªã„。): Why isn't the "separation of church and state" considered unconstitutional? why should only non-religious themes be celebrated around religious holidays...why should the state only represent the atheists point of view but consider religious views "separate but equal"... Best answer for Why isn't the "separation of church and state" considered unconstitutional?:
Answer by Gaytheist Buddha
ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE
Answer by Sophia M
Because there is more than one religion? If you're a Muslim, you would (probably) feel that it was unfair if the Christian church decided everything. If you're a Christian you'd (probably) feel it was unfair if we decided Muslims can decide everything. (And etc) Nobody is stopping you from celebrating your holidays. We have days off for a good deal of them. If we tried to represent every single friggin' religion ever created and gave everyone a holiday, we'd probably have less than half the year to actually do something. Think about it. We already have too many holidays
Answer by St. Alia
You want them to promote *all* religions? And it's secular, not atheist, dear.
Answer by HC
The first words in the Bill of Rights: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
Answer by Islam is evil
Great when do we celebrate eid? You'd be protesting then wouldn't you you stupid cvnt?
Answer by Gazoo
Everyone has the right to be stupid, but you are abusing the privilege!
Answer by Cross
You can celebrate religious holidays, it just won't be recognised by the state as such.
Answer by Jesse Rex
It's sad, especially since this country was founded with God in it. "IN GOD WE TRUST"
Answer by Dalton
Because religion is a persons personal opinion, and is not set in stone as a fact
Answer by LuisR
OK. 1. "Separate but equal" was overturned a long time ago. 2. The separation of church and state is not unconstitutional because of the lovely First Amendment to the Constitution.
Answer by Johnny F
Oh my goodness you should not be allowed to be an American. The reason for that clause is so that people have the freedom to practice whatever religion they want. If the state sponsored a single religion, then it is possible for laws to be put into place that favor one religion over another. That is not freedom. That is un-American. If you are serious about your question, please turn in your social security card and passport at the nearest US border please.
Answer by Alexis
The same reason freedom of speech isn't considered unconstitutional.
You're Doing It All Wrong - How to Time Your Thanksgiving DinnerCHOW Associate Editor Roxanne Webber shares the basic principles of timing for a simple Thanksgiving menu by demonstrating the things that people do wrong, including giving too little time for the turkey to defrost (patience is key when H2O is changing state) and trying to cook everything at once. Do it right: Start defrosting the turkey Sunday, make sure you have your utensils on Tuesday, do your shopping on Wednesday, and make those stovetop dishes you can reheat while your turkey roasts on Thursday.
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