CAMBODIA: KING SIHANOUK OFFERS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN WARRING FACTIONS

(1 Sep 1997) English/Nat
Addressing an audience of villagers in Northern Cambodia on Monday, King Norodom Sihanouk promised to do what he can to return peace to Cambodia, and offered to play a mediating role between warring factions in his homeland.
King Sihanouk was addressing villagers from Kompong Thom province's Baray district. They had been waiting for four days at the Bayon Temple in the ancient Angkorian city in hopes of meeting the ailing monarch.
When King Sihanouk learned that a group of villagers had been waiting to meet him, he invited them to his royal residence in Siem Reap town for an audience.
Many of the men and women broke down in tears when the king, accompanied by his wife Queen Monireath, welcomed them at the gate of his residence, touching their hands and embracing them.
The son of King Sihanouk, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, was ousted as the country's first Prime Minister in a coup in early July, led by the second Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Troops loyal to the deposed Prince have formed a resistance movement in Northern Cambodia, and have been fighting to challenge Hun Sen.
The king met on Saturday with newly appointed first premier Ung Huot, Hun Sen, and other top government officials.
When he learned that a group of villagers had been waiting to meet him, he invited them to the royal residence in Siem Reap town for an audience.
SOUNDBITE (English):
"They're asking for peace, I say that I always advise my compatriots, all of them, to achieve national reconciliation, to achieve peace for the sake of Cambodia and Cambodian people"
SUPER CAPTION : King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia
King Sihanouk said that besides his prayers for peace in Cambodia, he had also offered prayers for the soul of the Princess of Wales.
SOUNDBITE (English):
"So you know, one hour ago I made prayers for peace in Cambodia, and also for the happiness of the soul of Princess Diana. It is very moving, very touching, uh?"
SUPER CAPTION : King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia
The king also proposed that the Siem Reap residence, built for accommodating visiting heads of state, be used for informal peace talks.
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[@keicosermy]

This is why all Cambodia people loves His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk. Even his majesty loves to smile and sharing smiling to all people and remembering his service with peace and harmony. We pray for the peace of late his majesty and may his spirit will faithfully departed in the mercy of god, and may he rest in peace..... Even he is no longer in this world, but he smile from heaven upon Cambodia people.... We love His Majesty!

[@vuthycheychan8239]

😢😢😢

[@susanticia5772]

❤️🙏

[@paeronm7457]

មាតុភូមិដ៏កំសត់របស់ខ្ញុំ😢

[@phekka3805]

🙏🙏🇰🇭💕🙏🙏🙏

[@YunChankakada]

Cool

[@apsarasayondanikoluvmeas9741]

🙏🏼IN THE MEMORY OF OURS BELOVED 🇰🇭❤️‍🔥🇰🇭 👑KING
NORODOM SIHANOUK👑R.I.P.👑🌾KAMPUCHEA🌾 THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS…DEMOCRACY REQUIRES ACTION; WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE 🌾🇰🇭🙌🏻🇰🇭🌾!
FREEDOM NOT FACISM✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻
PLEASE HELP SUPPORTING PPA🇫🇷 PARIS PEACE AGREEMENT 23, OCTOBER 1991🇫🇷🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
TRUTHS&JUSTICES MATTERS…DEMOCRACY MATTERS…KHMERS LIVES MATTERS🙏🏼AMEN🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
🌹🌹🦚💎🇰🇭❤️‍🔥🇰🇭💎🦚🌹🌹❣️

[@vutha2135]

🙇🙇🙇🙇🙏🙏🙏🙏🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@doniter6838]

I love my king

[@user-ni9yy9fq2y]

love my king

[@bongnut7269]

❤️

[@thevongthidafamily]

I understand what he is saying bc I also speak Khmer

[@daropvh2188]

នឹកទ្រុងណាស់😭😭

[@wesdas7281]

ទូលបង្គំស្រឡាញ់សម្ដេចតា។

[@jadej51]

why do they call him that ?

[@berrynovan9846]

Soeharto

[@newaddress456]

A leader that loves people ? That is so rare and Sihanouk does. I am American and have worked in the Far East. I am back here to witness the hate monger - Trump.