2 His Majesty’s Birthday

Our Best Birthday Wishes for Good Health and Happiness to Samdach Ta

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Our Sincerest Congratulation Our Warmest Congratulations To His Majesty To Samdech Ta Norodom Sihanouk, Norodom Sihamoni, Father of Independence, On His Royal Coronation On the Occasion of His 84th Birthday

From The Management & Staff of:

313 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of . Tel: 855-23 426 288, Fax: 855-23 426 392, E-mail: [email protected] Managed by Orchid Hotels & Resorts A Special Supplement to heT CAMBODIA DAILY 3 THE MEDIA-CONSCIOUS A Master At Crafting His—And His Nation’s—Public Image By Michelle Vachon still are very involved. “His Majesty had a lot of time for ong before today’s media- the press: He built strong, long-last- blitz election campaigns and ing relationships with ‘journos’ like photogenic presidents, the L Bernie Krisher, Nayan Chanda, leader of a small Southeast Asian William Shawcross, Jean La- nation was capturing far more than couture and others,” said Julio his fair share of international media Jeldres, the retired King’s official attention. biographer. Retired King Norodom Siha- “His 5-hour long press confer- nouk, who is celebrating his 84th ences in Peking, Pyongyang or in birthday today, embarked on his Phnom Penh before the 18 March first press campaign more than half [coup ousting him in 1970] were a century ago. legendary,” Jeldres said. In the decades since, the retired In this regard, Norodom Siha- King has grown adept at using the nouk was ahead of his time, said media to reach the public and influ- Alain Daniel, who served as the ence politics in Cambodia and retired King’s private secretary in abroad. the late 1960s as part of an agree- Well-informed on what the ment with the French government. media is saying on any and all “At the time, it was not custom- Recalling his first meeting with monthly magazine L’Echo du Cambodian issues, Norodom Siha- ary [for political leaders] to pay so Norodom Sihanouk at a press Cambodge for reprinting excerpts nouk swiftly responds, these days much attention to the press and to luncheon in 1964, Kamm wrote: “I from a negative review of one of his mostly in writing. the international press,” he said. asked one or two [questions], not feature films that was first pub- Receiving faxes of newspaper “[Norodom Sihanouk] recog- because of a deep interest in Cam- lished in 1971 in the French daily pages with handwritten comments nized before many others the fun- bodia, terra incognita to me, but Le Monde. in the margins from Norodom damental importance of what today because I had found its chief of The 1969 film “Ombres sur Sihanouk are a regular occurrence we call ‘image’. Now there are state a national leader unlike any I Angkor” had been about an alleged today at newspaper offices. media consultants with the techni- had ever met.” plot by the US Central Intelligence As journalists who have had cal expertise to create an image for During that informal talk, Kamm Agency to topple Norodom their word choice or phrasing in a a certain kind of product—there recalls, “He blurted out with disre- Sihanouk. story scrutinized can attest, the are techniques used to launch gard for conventional hypocrisy L’Echo du Cambodge immedi- retired King’s open comments, products. He had realized before truths that statesmen are supposed ately apologized, and the retired which can be harshly critical or anyone else that a country was also to keep for themselves.... More- King did not pursue legal action. sometimes playfully congratulato- in a way a product, and that the over, he dwelt on his country’s “His Majesty’s relations with the ry, create between him and the image Cambodia projected abroad weakness rather than praising pre- press were sometimes tense be- press a very direct relationship. was something vital,” Daniel said. tended strength.” cause he used to reply to every arti- Unlike modern-day political lead- Cambodia often attracted atten- Eleven years earlier, Norodom cle that was presented to him and ers whose media relations consist tion because of its messenger, as Sihanouk had turned to the media that he felt did not convey an accu- of official spokespeople issuing former New York Times corre- in his quest for Cambodia’s inde- rate picture of Cambodia or of his press releases and official commu- spondent Henry Kamm mentions pendence from . own actions and policies,” Jeldres niques, Norodom Sihanouk’s deal- in his 1998 book “Cambodia, After a visit to Paris in 1953 said. ings with the press have been and Report from a Stricken Land.” where his request had not been “Sometimes the newspapers to taken seriously, he later pleaded which His Majesty wrote did not his cause in a Radio-Canada inter- publish his responses, and this cre- view in Montreal, and in a New ated some tension in the relation- York Times interview in Washing- ship, which was otherwise very ton, DC. healthy,” he added. Soon thereafter, those interviews In the mid-1960s, Norodom Siha- prompted a Washington Post edito- nouk’s relations with the foreign rial in support of Norodom and national media deteriorated. Sihanouk’s cause, writes Milton “On 11 September 1967, [then] Osborne in his 1994 book “Siha- Prince Sihanouk decreed the sup- nouk, Prince of Light, Prince of pression of all newspapers appear- Darkness.” ing in Cambodia and their replace- The 30-year-old King was “al- ment with four daily newspapers in ready aware of the power of the Khmer, French, Chinese and Western press to affect govern- Vietnamese languages put under mental opinion,” Osborne writes. the control of the Ministry of Information,” wrote the late Cover: A framed photo of retired King Norodom Sihanouk and And shortly after those interviews, Queen Monineath displayed in the Royal Palace France invited Norodom Siha- Charles Meyer in his 1971 book nouk’s representatives in Paris to “Derriere le sourire khmer,” or Top Right: In this 1967 television interview, Norodom Sihanouk “Behind the Khmer Smile.” alleges that China is trying to impose communism in Cambodia discuss independence. Photo: Courtesy of Cambodian Audiovisual Resource Center/French National Audiovisual Institute Over the years, media coverage Moreover, with the exception of would not always be so favorable, a few journalists known to print offi- Bottom Left: Norodom Sihanouk talks to journalists after a 1981 cial statements without comment, meeting with French diplomats in Paris about the difficulties of a and Norodom Sihanouk would peace settlement for Cambodia never take criticism lightly. Norodom Sihanouk closed Cam- Photo: Courtesy of Cambodian Audiovisual Resource Center/French National Audiovisual Institute In April, he threatened to sue bodia’s doors to the foreign press, Phnom Penh’s French-language Continued on page 14

OCTOBER 31, 2006 4 His Majesty’s Birthday

The management and staff of Nagacorp & Ariston Sdn Bhd extend their best wishes for long life, good health and happiness to His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk on the occasion of His 84th Birthday

Level 5, North Tower, Naga World, Park, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia P.O. Box 1099, Phnom Penh. Tel: + 855-23-723986 Fax: + 855-23-426627 5

WATCHING BETWEEN THE FRAMES The Retired King’s Films May Be More Message Than Medium By Erika Kinetz “I think the King Father’s films are messages to filmmaking in the 1940s, and in 1966 made his And Kay Kimsong his beloved children and his people,” said Prince first feature film, “Apsara.” Sisowath Kola Chat, secretary of state for the “[Norodom] Sihanouk was having a discourse long, dreamy epoch of Technicolor peas- Ministry of Culture. “The films will be a useful of building an independent, proud nation,” said ants, Mercedes sedans, pastoral North documentary for the future.” Ly Daravuth. Part of that proud nation turned out AKorean lakes, and a beautiful queen came You Sokunthy, 35, who has been selling DVDs to be a cadre of filmmakers—Roeum Sophon to an end in late September: “My cinema, it is since 1992, has captured the niche market for the and Ieu Pannakar among them—who grew up dead,” retired King Norodom Sihanouk wrote in retired King’s films. She said she likes the films around Norodom Sihanouk, according to “Cul- a letter from Beijing that was posted on his Web because they are emanations of Khmer culture. tures of Independence,” a book on Cambodian site. “The dress and the action show the identity of the arts and culture published by Reyum. Norodom Sihanouk has, of course, said this Khmer people,” she said. Her grandmother loved “The culture was a tool for him,” said Ly before and he may well say it again. While the them. Daravuth. “There is always a link between art retired King’s filmmaking career, which spans “The old generation really liked the King’s and state ideology.” four decades, may or may not be dead, for the movies,” she said. “When they played on TV, they According to the Reyum book, the other major moment, the distribution of his films is. In that watched with their mouths open, without blink- school of Cambodian filmmakers at the time was same missive from Beijing, he asked state-run ing their eyes.” funded and trained by the US government, which TVK to stop broadcasting his films, a request the Tastes have changed. Most Cambodians who during the Cold War maintained an ambitious station has said it would honor. come to her shop buy cartoons for their children, program of cultural diplomacy. The US Inform- And so begins the afterlife of the retired King’s with the hope that “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” ation Service shot documentaries in Cambodia in films. He has written and directed dozens of films, and “Cinderella” might teach them some the 1950s and sent mobile “cinecars” through the many of which he also scored. He often cast him- English. Cambodian teenagers, she said, prefer countryside, projecting films that showed the self, family members and public dignitaries in Samurai movies, Korean films, ghost stories, and wholesome American way. starring roles. Norodom Sihanouk has written martial arts movies. USIS trained Cambodians to make Khmer-lan- that he made the films with fervor and love for his It is tourists who make her dig deep into the guage films for these village screenings. Sun Bun homeland and his people, but these days, it’s back of her cabinets, searching for evidence of Ly, a policeman who went on to form Cambodia’s quite difficult to find them in Cambodia. After he the retired King’s cinema. She sells 20 to 30 first independent, commercial film production retired in 2004, Norodom Sihanouk moved his copies of his movies each month. They cost $4 company, Neak Poan Productions, was among personal film archive to the Ecole Francaise each, twice the price of “The Killing Fields” and them. So was Nhek Dim, who USIS sent in the d’Extreme-Orient in Paris and to Monash Rithy Panh’s “S21, The Killing early 1960s to the Walt Disney studios to learn University in Melbourne, Australia. Machine,” which fly off her shelves by the hun- cartooning. The films were never meant to be for sale, yet dreds. like many things in Cambodia, they are anyway. Norodom Sihanouk founded Cambodia’s first Part of the issue is what Ly Daravuth, calls international film festival in 1968; that year and the The few copies that do circulate in markets “deferred modernity.” The French had their New next, his films won the grand prize—a pure gold around Phnom Penh have been pirated from for- Wave, and the Americans had the actor and statue of an Apsara dancer. In 1997, the eign diplomats who received them as gifts, or improvisational director John Cassavettes. International Film Festival of Moscow honored from members of the Royal Family, according to Cambodia, meanwhile, had war. him with a special jury prize. You Sokunthy, whose DVD stall at Phsar Tuol “Here you are only starting to have Cubism,” Tumpoung is one of the few places that you can Ly Daravuth said. In general, however, his filmmaking efforts find them. Today, the films, most of which were Norodom Sihanouk’s films, then, belong to an have been met with limited international critical created for Khmer audiences, are perhaps most older order. He first began experimenting with acclaim. And aesthetics alone may not offer the ardently pursued by curio-seeking tourists. right lens for judgement. The tourist market, some say, is where culture “If you ask me to look at the films from a pure- Top Left: The opening of Kompong Cham ly art critic perspective, it would be a difficult read- goes to die. This shift has ripped the Royal films province’s Preah Sihamoni Theater from their original context, and the resulting dis- ing,” Ly Daravuth said. “But I’ve only looked at featuring Norodom Sihanouk’s film them as historical films.” sonance, to foreign eyes, is either incomprehensi- “The Little Prince” on July 20, 1968 The retired King has said that he never intend- ble or, more often than not, funny. Photo: Courtesy of the Reyum Institute “People laugh,” said Ly Daravuth, the director ed his films to be commercial undertakings. Top Center: Norodom Sihanouk greets an In 1997, he told the International Film Festival of the Reyum Institute. “They say how kitsch. enthusiastic spectator at the premiere of [Norodom] Sihanouk does not care. He is in his film “The Little Prince” on July 6, of Moscow that the budgets for his films ranged another artistic tradition.” 1968. The photo appeared in Kambuja from $20,000 to $70,000 and were financed by the Understood as statecraft, the films offer a fan- magazine on August 15, 1968 Cambodian government. They were to be of the tastical counterpart to Cambodia’s bleak modern Photo: Courtesy of the National Library of Cambodia people and for the people, with free screenings history. And they are, perhaps, one part of the Top Right: Norodom Sihanouk during the and regular broadcasts on state TV. Even today, dream-life of Norodom Sihanouk, a record of shooting of his film “Angkor in Prince Sisowath Kola Chat said copies of the films how he wanted to see his nation, how he enter- Darkness,” produced in 1967 would be provided free of charge to anyone who tained himself, and how he sought to relate to his Photo: Courtesy of the Reyum Institute needs them. people. Continued on page 14

OCTOBER 31, 2006 6 His Majesty’s Birthday

The retired King sings backed by Huot Thea in this image taken from a video of the performance

BACKING THE ROYAL BALLADEER His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk’s Violinist Is a King Among Fiddlers By Erik Wasson democracy and his return from exile in China. And Prak Chan Thul Huot Thea says he has performed with the retired king countless times since then. e looked familiar. I was eating pork and “With the King Father I learned a lot of new ginger with white rice at Phnom Penh’s songs especially in French and Spanish that I HLucky Bright Restaurant and realized that never would have had a chance to learn,” he says. I had seen the violin player before. Then it hit me: Sometimes the band’s practice sessions can go Huot Thea is in King Father Norodom Siha- on for a very long time, Huot Thea says, because nouk’s band. Norodom Sihanouk is a perfectionist and has the “It has been good for my career,” the 41-year- energy of a much younger man. old violinist said after one of his regular perform- “I have never seen a person that age that can ances at Lucky Bright. sing that much and remember that much,” he People, he says, often recognize him from his said. “When we played for diplomats, it went on performances with the King Father. Cambodia’s multi-talented retired King is until four in the morning. I went to the toilet two known not only as a prolific filmmaker but also as or three times, but the King Father never stopped an energetic singer and talented songwriter. to take a break.” Norodom Sihanouk’s legendary palace US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli, who has soirees have always included him singing live attended some of the retired King’s performanc- before diplomats and dignitaries, featuring such es, said of the singing: “I wish I had had as much Western classics as “Feelings” and “Lambada,” stamina at 24 as the King Father still has at 84.” as well as much-loved songs by Cambodia’s late Huot Thea said of all the songs the retired King Sin Sisamuth. sings, his personal favorite is “Monique,” which is Sin Sisamuth’s “Sekong,” “Why Do You Cry about the King Father’s love for the Queen. When I Sing?” and “Last Year,” are still wildly pop- Most nights, however, Huot Thea can be found ular among young and old Cambodians and are leading his Lucky Bright Band at Lucky Bright included in the retired King’s repertoire. restaurant on Norodom Boulevard, where he Norodom Sihanouk’s band often includes his plays for a clientele of largely well-to-do Cambo- half-brother Prince Norodom Sirivuddh on guitar dians and government officials. and Minister of Culture Prince Sisowath Panara But Huot Thea has also entertained some very Sirivuddh on saxophone. different customers. When a violin is required, as it often is, Huot A master of the traditional Khmer two-stringed Thea is called for. instrument called the tro, Huot Thea as a teenag- “My father played for the King and I have er was conscripted to play for Khmer Rouge sol- known him since I was a boy. I work at the diers during the 1975-1979 Democratic Ministry of Culture also so when they need me, Kampuchea regime. they contact me there,” Huot Thea says, adding “During the Khmer Rouge regime, I also that he is also a dab hand at the maracas. played.... I was still young so I never thought “We played together for a meeting of provincial about politics. I would play when they camped at governors in September, before the King Father the pagoda,” he said. “That is life—you have to left for Beijing,” Huot Thea says. adjust to the new regime.” Norodom Sihanouk has been singing publicly But those days are long gone, Huot Thea said. at the palace in Phnom Penh on occasion since Life is better playing with the retired King.

the early 1990s following the country’s turn to Heng Chivoan A Special Supplement to The CAMBODIA DAILY 7

Tachibana, publishers of the best selling inspirational books by Toshu Fukami, wish Your Majesty Norodom Sihanouk a joyous 84th birthday and many, many more

TACHIBANA PUBLISHING INC. Books that shape the world 3-42-19 Nishiogi-kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Tel: +81-3-5310-2131 Fax: +81-3-3397-9295 The retired King greeting well-wishers at Phnom Penh International Airport May 26 Heng Chivoan A LION IN WINTER?—ROYAL YEAR IN REVIEW evision stations at the request of . In the year since his last birthday, youngest daughter. sions, he said. By Douglas Gillison Hun Sen. “He knows that the CPP is the Norodom Sihanouk has witnessed The former King has saved his “I think that you cannot under- ive hundred and ninety-seven Frustrated that King Norodom major party with a critical role in sta- both the decline and the emergence strongest criticism for his nephew stand the stance of King Sihanouk if I would like to join all the days into his retirement, for- Sihamoni was unavailable to sign off bilizing the country and guarantee- of parties that trade in the symbols Prince Sisowath Thomico, who, to you do not have in mind what is F mer King Norodom Sihanouk on a controversial new border treaty ing the existence of the monarchy,” of his long political career. oppose Hun Sen and the CPP, has most important to him: Peace and people of Cambodia and of the landed at Phnom Penh International with Vietnam, Hun Sen ordered TV he said. Among the casualties were doz- formed the recently launched Sang- stability,” Prince Thomico said. Airport in the afternoon of May 26. and radio stations to play - National stability and the survival ens of Funcinpec members who kum Jatiniyum Front Party. “It means that whenever he feels world to wish your Majesty a very After a 16-month absence, the era songs that accused Sihanouk of of the Cambodian monarchy are the were fired by Hun Sen, and Prince Norodom Sihanouk has ridiculed that peace and stability are at stake, retired King was greeted by more ceding land to Cambodia’s larger two overriding preoccupations of Norodom Sirivudh, who was re- every aspect of the party, from its he will take a softer stance toward than 100 government officials, for- happy 84th birthday. neighbor. Norodom Sihanouk, though his life- moved as co-Interior Minister. finances to its proposed ideology, the CPP, just to cool and smooth eign diplomats, and Prime Minister Hun Sen. “The fact that the new generation long interest in national politics is Under fierce verbal attack from the even at one point discussing Prince things down.” The 83-year-old ex-monarch, a publicized the song made me... also evident. CPP, Prince Thomico’s marital status. As an example, Prince Thomico seminal figure in the history of [remember] the abasement against Kek Galabru, president of local quit as National Assembly president “[T]he terrible blows that Tho- pointed out that in September, after You are the glue and unifying Cambodia, waved to reporters but me,” Norodom Sihanouk wrote in a rights group Licadho, said the for- and was then forced out as president mico has taken too great a pleasure both he and Prince Ranariddh called said nothing before stepping into a message posted to his Web site at mer King remains very much inter- of Funcinpec. in dealing me under the pretext for the King-Father to return to poli- force which holds your nation car with the Queen Mother, Noro- the time. ested, if not directly implicated in As the week of Ranariddh’s ouster struggling against our Great Leader tics, the former King reacted imme- dom Monineath, and driving off. However, seven days after his politics. ended, the former King had not yet are endured by me with a certain diately. together. May you continue to “He would like to have come back return in May, Norodom Sihanouk, “I think he’s still involved in poli- responded to a letter informing him stoicism,” the former King wrote in “It is not and never will it be a a long time ago but he did not feel during a banquet at the Royal Palace tics in the larger sense of the term,” of Keo Puth Rasmey’s installation as September. question for me whether to accept enjoy a long and healthy life to OK to return because some people in Phnom Penh, described the she said. Funcinpec president, said Nouv In an interview, Prince Thomico the post of prime minister...or anoth- criticized him,” Prince Norodom prime minister as his own son and a “He is aware of the situation of Sovathero, the party’s newly ap- said he would not directly discuss er post or assignment that forces me assure Cambodia’s good fortune Youvaneath, one of the retired “new hero of Cambodia.” Cambodia, he follows the situation, pointed spokesman. the King-Father’s apparent disap- to leave my retirement,” he wrote in King’s sons, told reporters at the air- “King Norodom Sihamoni and I he is informed. But I don’t think he Nouv Sovathero therefore de- proval of the SJF. a Sept 15 communique marked port. both support Samdech Hun Sen to wants to come back to politics.” clined to speculate on what Noro- “I am reminded of the phrase of “very urgent.” and prosperity. In statements made during the lead the country for the whole of his And for those who think the dom Sihanouk’s relations would be Buddha, ‘Everything is illusion. Nevertheless, two days later, Hun months prior to his return, Noro- life,” the retired monarch said at the retired King may still somehow be with a post-Ranariddh Funcinpec. In Even illusion is illusion,’” Prince Sen gave an angry speech broad- Sinsuke Yamada, President gathering, during which he sang 21 engaged in politics, Norodom Siha- an Oct 20 letter to Prince Ranariddh, Thomico said. cast on radio and television in which dom Sihanouk said alternately that Otsuka Shoe Co., Ltd. fear of political upheaval and also his songs, plus one requested by Hun nouk has continued the steady the former King described the “You have to be very careful be- he denounced Princes Ranariddh failing health had prevented him Sen. drumbeat of disclaimers. changes to Funcinpec as an “unfore- cause sometimes the reality behind and Thomico for sedition. 23-4, Shimbashi 4-Chome from returning home. It appears to be the closest Noro- “His Majesty King-Father Noro- seen Tragedy.” things may not be what you see,” he This is just the sort of thing the Minato-ku, Tokyo In January, however, he said his dom Sihanouk has been to Hun Sen dom Sihanouk has repeatedly stated Funcinpec will remain a firmly said. former King is seeking to avoid by (105-0004) elongated absence was in fact due to and the ruling CPP in the past 13 on countless occasions that He only royalist party, said Nouv Sovathero, The King-Father’s unique ges- employing his idiosyncratic ap- the painful memory of anti-Siha- years since UNTAC, said Koul wishes to live in peace and stay out noting that Keo Puth Rasmey is tures towards the different political proach to each party, Prince Tho- noukist propaganda, broadcast the Panha, executive director of the of politics,” the former King’s cabi- married to Princess Norodom Arun parties in Cambodia are an attempt mico said. THE CAMBODIA DAILY previous October on Cambodian tel- Committee for Free and Fair net reiterated in April. Rasmey, retired King Sihanouk’s to diffuse the many competing ten- OCTOBER 31, 2006 10 His Majesty’s Birthday

Long Live Samdach Ta Norodom Sihanouk Good Health and Happiness always on the Occasion of His Majesty's 84th Birthday

From the Management & Staff Sunway Hotel Phnom Penh

Long Live Samdach Ta Norodom Sihanouk Good Health and Happiness always on the Occasion of His Majesty's 84th Birthday

Nº 111 Norodom Blvd. Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855) 23-217617, Fax: (855) 23-217618 E-mail: [email protected] The royal family greets well-wishers at Phnom Penh International Airport in 2004 Heng Chivoan THE FUTURE OF THE MONARCHY By James Welsh Queen he last 12 months have been a turbulent with her sons, future King time for Cambodia’s royal family. In Norodom Sihamoni, right, and October 2005, Prime Minister Hun Sen Prince Norodom Norindrapong T in this photo from the Royal threatened to abolish the monarchy if King Palace archives Norodom Sihamoni failed to sign off on a contro- versial supplemental border agreement with Vietnam. And earlier this month, retired King Norodom Sihanouk warned that a request by Prince Sisowath Thomico that he return and run the county could also spell disaster. In a message posted on his Web site, Norodom Sihanouk said an unidentified “CPP personality” had told him that such calls could bring the monarchy to a close. It is perhaps little wonder then that Julio Jeldres, official biographer of retired King Norodom Sihanouk, wrote in a recent e-mail that he felt pessimistic about the institution’s future. “The monarchy, I fear, has been treated with contempt, threatened, used and abused by the political elite for their own political ends, causing an irreparable disunity among the Royal Family,” Jeldres wrote. One of the defining details of King Norodom Sihamoni’s reign to date has been his decision to King who is a young man, cultivated, competent, Norodom avoid Cambodia’s rough-and-tumble political an artist, very well-informed about Cambodian Sihanouk pours scene. culture, and a man who has lived abroad long water over King For Kek Galabru, founder of local rights group enough to know what a modern country is,” he Norodom Licadho, this has been a wise move. said. Sihamoni at “Now [the people] start to respect and love the But Daniel also noted that the monarchy is in a his 2004 new King because the new King Sihamoni has period of transition. coronation no problems with politics—he’s not involved with Describing Norodom Sihanouk, he said: “We ceremonies politics at all,” Kek Galabru said. But while the have at the head of Cambodia a truly exceptional monarchy appears stable under King Sihamoni, man who is a major public figure in world history she added: “After King Sihamoni—I don’t know.” and who—whether or not he was King at differ- Part of the monarchy’s appeal for the general ent stages of his life—has always been consid- public, Kek Galabru said, is that the public associ- ered the sovereign by the majority of the popula- ates it with peace. tion.” “When King Sihanouk was deposed, the war But the world has changed since Norodom arrived. This is in the mind of Cambodian peo- Sihanouk first reigned in the 1950s and 1960s, he ple,” she said. said. “Cambodians must redefine monarchy Cambodia’s love for the monarchy—and more adapted to the world today—and this is perfectly specifically Norodom Sihanouk—continued doable.” through the Khmer Rouge period and was For some observers, the key to the monar- rewarded when he was once again appointed to chy’s survival will depend upon steering away the throne in 1993 as Cambodia began its transi- from politics and focusing on the role of national tion from a communist state to a fledgling democ- figurehead and a symbol of stability. racy, Kek Galabru said. Despite anti-royal rumblings from the CPP, Heng Chivoan This love, she added, continues on today and political analyst Lao Mong Hay said the monar- into the future through King Sihamoni. chy is secure, and that the current government tected the achievements of the Sangkum Reastr “If one day the monarchy was to disappear, I will keep it in order to legitimize the CPP’s rule. Niyum. believe that Cambodians would lose a great deal,” Even though the monarchy has been margin- For some, King Sihamoni’s relatively low-pro- said Alain Daniel, who served as Norodom alized for the moment, the government still file reign is part of an ongoing redefinition of what Sihanouk’s private secretary in the late 1960s as needs it, he said. the Cambodian monarchy is all about. part of an agreement with the French govern- “The Japanese shoguns needed the emperors “[King Sihamoni] is in the process of redefin- ment. to legitimize their power, so does the Cambodian ing what Cambodian monarchy should be,” Daniel said the idea of a monarchy can con- shogun [need] the King to legitimize and consol- Daniel said. “He is doing this with finesse, pro- tribute permanence and security in a country, as idate his power,” Lao Mong Hay said. gressively—Cambodian —quietly and with- was recently seen after the bloodless military Government spokesman and CPP Informa- out upheaval.” (Additional reporting by Michelle coup in . tion Minister Khieu Kanharith said that Hun Sen Vachon and Yun Samean) “We now have the good fortune of having a respects the King and the government has pro- THE CAMBODIA DAILY

OCTOBER 31, 2006

A Special Supplement to heT CAMBODIA DAILY 13

I Extend My Heartiest Wishes to Your Majesty Norodom Sihanouk on Your 84th Birthday

HARUHISA HANDA Chancellor UNIVERSITY of CAMBODIA #143-145, Preah Norodom Blvd. Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: +855-23-993274 Fax: +855-23-993275 www.uc.edu.kh 14 His Majesty’s Birthday

15-year-old then-Prince At a 1967 Paris press conference Norodom Sihamoni Norodom Sihanouk says starring in his father’s Cambodians inside national 1968 film "The Little borders have been killed in Prince" US-Vietnamese warfare

Courtesy of the National Library of Cambodia Courtesy of the Audiovisual Resource Center/French National Audiovisual Institute ating Kim Il Sung and his son Kim armed confrontation between Thai Jong Il, and then calls for shots of the and Cambodian military at Preah Watching... “beautiful People’s Democratic Media... Vihear temple; an interview with CONTINUED FROM Republic of Korea, which is from CONTINUED FROM Chinese President Mao Zedong by PAGE 5 PAGE 3 every point of view so admirable, Norodom Sihanouk with a photo of and making formidable progress.” the two heads of state; a feature on One of his latest efforts, “Heart- Prey Veng province; a business Depictions of an idealized Cam- accusing it of systematically putting rending Separation,” a short film story on the pepper crop in bodian homeland are a recurring down his regime, wrote Meyer, based on the novel “Axelle” by province, complete with theme. who was Norodom Sihanouk’s Pierre Benoit, which is scheduled costs and expected yield over 5 “Shadow Over Angkor,” from the political adviser in the 1960s. for production either late this year or years; a poem by H H Doeung, a late 1960s, tells the story of a foiled The retired King, however, kept early next, tells the story of a wild Cambodian returning to the coun- plot to topple the government. It a written correspondence with the and bloody battle between red try after a 10-year absence; words opens with Norodom Sihanouk, media worldwide; he graciously “Kambu” soldiers and foreign in- and music of a Norodom Sihanouk dressed in a white officer’s uniform, answered all questions, and sent vaders known as the “Vamnietians.” song; a story on basketball; and white shoes, and white gloves, on long telegrams with either warm The script has been posted on the political cartoons. the deck of a battle ship. thanks for favorable stories or cor- retired King’s Web site. Among his other publications Then it quickly moves to a series rections and even indignant denials Some of his films are ripped from were “Le Sangkum,” an in-depth of loving long shots, which show for negative ones, Meyer wrote. the headlines. Earlier this year, as monthly on politics and history, Cambodia to be a nation of smooth “[Norodom Sihanouk] paid a lot reports emerged about the mistress and the humorous publication roads, bustling ports, swimming of attention to what the press wrote of his son Prince Norodom Rana- “Phseng Phseng,” Daniel said. pools, world-class monuments, about Cambodia because he felt riddh, Norodom Sihanouk filmed a Today the retired King’s mes- fresh-cut roses and a happy diplo- that, in a way, the honor and digni- 12-minute sketch, “Who Does Not sages continue to draw public matic corps. ty of Cambodians were being tar- Have a Mistress?” The was attention to an array of issues. It is a splendid, air-tight vision, nished if the article was unreason- taken from Funcinpec lawmaker In July 2005, in the margin of a crafted even as his country teetered ably critical,” Jeldres said. Princess Norodom Vacheara, who story on Montagnard asylum seek- on the brink of chaos. asked the question in an interview Norodom Sihanouk apparently The film premiered in Moscow in has kept all these documents on ers deported to Vietnam after while arguing that extramarital being refused refugee status by the 1969, the same year that the US affairs should not be used to perse- file—the news stories, good and began its secret bombings in bad, and the messages he sent UN, he wrote: “Our Buddhism and cute royalist officials. our Democracy should bring us to Cambodia. Filmmaking is a habit the retired after their publication. He regularly Norodom Sihanouk’s scripts call posts some of them on his Web site grant asylum to these unfortunate King seems hard-pressed to drop. Montagnards.” for good-looking commanding offi- In early October, he posted on his or reprints them in his monthly bul- cers and pretty civilian girls, luxury letin. Earlier this month, he referred Web site a newspaper article which to the French documentary “Indi- limousines, pine forests at sunset, told of a strange and murderous And, it would appear, he never genes,” which aired on the French tragic love affairs, benevolent mon- love triangle. The victim’s wife and forgets any of them. television station TV5 in Phnom archs, and meddling, wealthy impe- daughter, who shared a boyfriend, Among the messages he has Penh, saying that the program on rialist powers. poisoned him with battery acid and recently issued in response to “natives” in the French army failed Some have topical interest: Some the wife then cut his penis off. Prince Sisowath Thomico’s giving to mention Cambodians who people have taken his 1967 film, “I have stopped making films,” his newly-formed political party a “The Little Prince,” which starred wrote the retired King. “But if I were royalist agenda, Norodom Siha- fought for France in the two world his son and now-King Norodom still ‘active’ as a filmmaker, I could nouk resurrected this month a let- wars and received virtually nothing Sihamoni, as an early sign of his never allow myself to show in a film ter he had sent to the publication in return. preferences for succession. Earlier of N Sihanouk details that abase my Indochina Report in Singapore in Most of these messages the this year, he produced a film in race and myself.” (Additional report- April 1987. retired King writes by hand him- called “Reborn.” The ing by Kuch Naren) The lengthy letter—posted in self in French—the language he script begins with a voiceover vener- THE CAMBODIA DAILY installments on his Web site—was learned as a boy in then Indochina in reply to a 1986 story written by and in which he wrote his books in Prince Thomico criticizing Noro- the 1970s. dom Sihanouk and his regime of “[Norodom Sihanouk] belong- the 1950s and 1960s. ed to that generation of heads of Long Live Their Majesties As the publications he created state for whom style was impor- demonstrate, the retired King has tant,” and who chiseled every sen- King Norodom Sihamoni and not viewed the media solely as a tence of their messages or speech- political tool. es, Daniel said. King Father Norodom Sihanouk “Kambuja,” which he launched “I believe that he has always in 1965, was a magazine-style, color been interested in journalism and publication with full-page photos journalists, not only because he and a mix of in-depth stories and considered [the press] an impor- With all the best wishes to Their Majesties form the Management and light features to inform and enter- tant lever in politics...but also Staff of the PYRAMID Co., Ltd., Translation Service tain the Cambodian public. because this is a man who likes to It appeared in English and in write” Daniel said. #216B St. 63, Boeung Keng Kang 1, Phnom Penh Tel: (855) 23 217 545 / 012 863 545 French, which many Cambodians “In my opinion, had he not been a Fax: (855) 23 987 792 – PO Box: 972 spoke at the time, Daniel said. , he would have had the [email protected] – www.pyramid-e.com Its May 15, 1966 issue, for in- qualities to be a great journalist.” stance, included: an account of an THE CAMBODIA DAILY A Special Supplement to The CAMBODIA DAILY 15

H.M. King Norodom Sihanouk with H.E. Jirˇí Sˇitler, H.R.H. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Head of State of Cambodia, Ambassador of the Czech Republic in 2002 decorated by the Order of the White Lion, the highest Czechoslovak State Award in 1960 The Embassy of the Czech Republic in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Czech - Cambodia diplomatic relations submits its most loyal greetings and best wishes to His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk The King Father on the occassion of His Majesty’s Birthday

Embassy of the Czech Republic 71/6 Ruam Rudee Soi 2, Ploenchit Rd., P.O. Box 522, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: 662-2553027, Fax: 662-2537637, E-mail: [email protected] 16 His Majesty’s Birthday THE KING FATHER’S DIGITAL DISPATCHES His 84th Was A Busy Year For The World’s Most Prolific Royal Blogger Mok, Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, tell of horrible and ‘fascinating’ stories of Super- that is, just 5 or 6 aging, sick and unrepentant Corruption and of countless ‘Frankensteinian’ individuals, one could provide immensely ben- ‘Crimes’ allegedly committed by our ‘new eficial services to the Little People...useful in Fatherland of Angkor’ Regime. [...] At any rate, lifting them from their misery.” in Phnom Penh they are unanimous in making - PHNOM PENH, JULY 6, 2006 the following observation: HENG ‘POV,’ as a ‘super-star,’ is entirely eclipsing the ‘star’ [Prince Norodom] Ranariddh. The latter can only be saved in this regard by his lovely ‘Evil Fox’ ‘sorceress,’ alias ‘Wolf of the Devil!’” ON THE KHMER ROUGE: - SIEM REAP TOWN, AUG 23, 2006 “Continuing to display, to exhibit without shame, for the pleasure of tourists and other ON NORTH KOREA: ‘visitors,’ the skulls, bone fragments (skele- tons, etc.) of the innocent victims of the “The work of extremely heroic struggles for Diabolical K.R. Polpotian Monsters, is to show total and irreversible National Liberation, for extraordinary contempt and a total lack of pity national Defense, National Education and for the victims of the diabolical KR Polpotians.” - PHNOM PENH, JULY 16 2006 Juche-Socialist Construction by His Ex- cellency the President-Marshal and Great Leader KIM IL SUNG, and by his illustrious and beloved Son and most worthy Successor His Excellency the Marshal-Great Leader ON FRANCE’S WORLD CUP DEFEAT: KIM JONG IL, is that of two true GIANTS of universal HISTORY.” “If [Italian footballer] Mr. Marco Materazzi - PYONGYANG, MARCH 3, 2006 hadn’t uttered words of very grave, extremely grave insult, to [French player] Mr. Zidane, it is certain that the latter would not have been crazy enough to deliver that ‘head butt’ to the ON ADULTERY: Italian.” ON THE PRESS: - PHNOM PENH, JULY 16, 2006 “It seems that only communist Countries con- sider adultery a ‘crime.’ According to ‘anti- “HE [Information Minister] Mr. KHIEU KAN- Communist Liberals,’ one can love and prac- HARITH has just reminded me that I prom- tice adultery freely, as one loves and freely eats ised never to sue journalists. Consequently I foie gras and ice-cream.” ON FORMER KR COMMANDER TA MOK: will not sue the journalist or journalists who - SEPT 6, 2006 produce or who shall produce texts, articles slandering me, dragging me through the mud “And now there are a considerable number of our compatriots who, as ‘worthy’ sons and or insulting me or distorting History. I shall daughters, are deciding to pay homage to the content myself with publishing ‘clarifications’ prosthesis of a leg of TA MOK (a warrior who or other texts (Replies, Protests, Reestab- reportedly lost a leg by jumping on a land- EXCERPTED FROM THE ORIGINAL lishments of historical truths...)” mine) as an equal to the relics of Buddha!!!” SCREENPLAY “SORRY, LADY, I’M GAY”: - JANGSUWON STATE GUEST HOUSE, - PHNOM PENH, AUG 6, 2006 NORTH KOREA, APRIL 25, 2006 “(Widowed) Lady: ‘Mr. Rene, as I have told you already, a year ago I lost my husband who was a Colonel in the Army of the USA. He died in Iraq. And you tell me that you live normally in ON DISGRACED FORMER PHNOM PENH France with your parents... Mr. Rene, I will ON WORLD CUP FOOTBALL: POLICE CHIEF HENG POV: come right to the point. By visiting the Fatherland of our origin, Kampuchea, Destiny “Alas, instead of two victories in two matches, “Heng ‘POV,’ of course still outside Cambodia, has allowed me to make your acquaintance in France has only gotten two draws. And this, is seeking to become a (low-level) ‘Khmer Angkor, symbol of the greatest glory of one must underscore, was due to indubitably HOMER’ by continuing, with visible delight, to Kampuchea. And I have fallen in love with you. anti-French referees who, respectively, denied Will you marry me in Angkor, my beloved the French in official competition a penalty and Rene?’ a ‘well-cooked’ goal, that is, obvious, shown on Top Left: After playing basketball in “Rene: Madam, I too will come right to the television.” 1963, Norodom Sihanouk tells journal- point: I am an homosexual. Here is my wife, - PHNOM PENH, JUNE 20, 2006 ists in Phnom Penh that he does not Mister Robert.’ want to be dependent on the US “(The handsome and young Robert Photo: Audiovisual Resource Center/French National Audiovisual Institute emerges in a dressing gown from the bath- Right: Norodom Sihanouk boating off room and, smiling, comes to greet the Khmer the coast of Koh Kong province. widow of America most respectfully).” N HE HMER OUGE RIBUNAL O T K R T : Published Jan 15, 1967, in Kambuja - OCT 2, 2006 magazine “With the dozens of millions of US $ reserved Photo: Courtesy of the National Library of Cambodia COMPILED BY DOUGLAS GILLISON for the ‘trial,’ the trial in fact honoring Dutch, Ta THE CAMBODIA DAILY