Norodom Sihanouk

His Majesty King-Father Norodom Sihanouk (Khmer: Mul script ; regular script ) (name pronounced {{IPA|/nɔɾoːdɔm siːhanuʔ/}} in Khmer; in French), the son of King Norodom Suramarit and Queen Sisowath Kossamak, reigned as King of Cambodia until he announced his abdication on October 7 2004, and is now "King-Father of Cambodia", a position in which he retains many of his former prerogatives as king.

Leadership Turmoil

After World War II and into the early 1950s, King Sihanouk's politics became more nationalistic and he began demanding that the French grant the country independence and depart, echoing the sentiments of many nations in the Indochinese region, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. He went into exile in Thailand in 1952 and refused to return until the granting of independence. He returned when his overtures met with success and Cambodia became independent on November 9, 1953. On March 2, 1955, King Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his father, taking the post of prime minister a few months later. Following his father's death in 1960, he gained election as head of state, but without the title of 'King', merely receiving the title of Prince.

Related Topics:
World War II - Independence - Indochinese - Thailand - Laos - 1952 - November 9 - 1953 - March 2 - 1955 - Prime minister - 1960 - Prince

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While the Vietnam War raged, Sihanouk sought to preserve Cambodia's neutrality. Alternately taking sides with the People's Republic of China, supporting the United States and espousing Third Way policies, he nevertheless could not prevent the war from spilling over into his country. On March 18, 1970, while he was travelling out of the country, General Lon Nol, commander of the royal armed forces, orchestrated a coup d'état and ousted him from power. After the coup Prince Sihanouk fled to Beijing and organized forces to resist the Lon Nol government in Phnom Penh. When the Khmer Republic fell to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975, Prince Sihanouk became the symbolic head of state of the new régime while Pol Pot remained the power behind the throne. The next year, on April 4 1976, the Khmer Rouge forced Sihanouk out of office again and into political retirement. He then sought refuge in the People's Republic of China and in North Korea.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - People's Republic of China - United States - Third Way - March 18 - 1970 - Lon Nol - Coup d'état - Beijing - Phnom Penh - Khmer Republic - Khmer Rouge - 1975 - Pol Pot - Power behind the throne - April 4 - 1976 - North Korea

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The Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in December 1978 ousted the Khmer Rouge. Although wary of the Khmer Rouge, Prince Sihanouk eventually joined forces with them in order to provide a united front against the Vietnamese. In 1982, he became president of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK), which consisted of his own FUNCINPEC party, Son Sann's KPNLF and the Khmer Rouge. The Vietnamese withdrew in 1989, leaving behind a pro-Vietnamese government under Prime Minister Hun Sen to run the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK).

Related Topics:
1978 - 1982 - Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea - FUNCINPEC - Son Sann - 1989 - Hun Sen - People's Republic of Kampuchea

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