‘Peace’ a Legacy of Sihanouk: Official

Then-Prince Sihanouk and Chairman Mao in March 1970Then-Prince Sihanouk and Pham Van DongThen-Prince Sihanouk and then-Princess Monique with the KR leaders in April 1973

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
30 October 2009

As prince, head of state and king, Norodom Sihanouk (picture: in Moscow in March 1970) accomplished many things, but as the former monarch prepares for his 87th birthday, he should be remembered as bringing peace to Cambodia, a former director of the Royal Cabinet said Thursday.

Sihanouk, who abdicated the throne in 2004 and has been struggling against cancer, was born Oct. 31, 1922, oversaw independence in 1953, was exiled by a US-backed coup in 1970, held under house arrest by the Khmer Rouge, and finally returned as king.

His main legacy was peace, said Truong Mealy, the former cabinet head, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

“With such peace, we can now talk,” he said.

Sihanouk is also remembered for his efforts to bring Preah Vihear temple under Cambodian control, through legal pursuits at the International Court in 1962, one caller to the show recalled.