Cambodia's king in political crossfire

Sihamoni in middle of storm of political feuds, national pride

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- When Norodom Sihamoni was crowned king a year ago in an elaborate, centuries-old ritual, his reign was expected to tone down the country's acrimonious politics. His father, Norodom Sihanouk, after abdicating, had promoted his son for the position on the basis of him being "a neutral and impartial person who is not engaged in politics."

 

But as the mild-mannered 52-year-old monarch on Saturday celebrates a year at the top, he finds himself in the middle of a major political tussle involving a touchy issue of nationalistic pride and a bitter feud between the country's two pre-eminent political figures -- the strong-willed and outspoken Sihanouk, still an influential public voice, and the equally stubborn prime minister, Hun Sen.

 

The controversy boiled up earlier this month when Hun Sen signed a new border treaty with neighboring Vietnam during a visit to Hanoi.

 

Sihanouk called the pact "illegal" because it conceded territorial claims to Vietnam that some previous Cambodian governments had disputed. Many Cambodians are hypersensitive to border issues, since the country is sandwiched between two larger and economically powerful neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam, which have a record of swallowing up its territory.

 

Vietnam is regarded with particular suspicion: its troops occupied Cambodia for a decade after toppling its ultra-leftist Khmer Rouge government in 1979. Hun Sen was appointed to the new regime set up by the Vietnamese occupiers.

 

The border treaty is now headed for the legislature, which is virtually certain to approve it, and then goes to Sihamoni, who as head of state must sign it for it to take effect. Tradition dictates that the king approve what the government presents him.

 

But Sihanouk, currently on an extended stay in China for medical care, has suggested that his son avoid putting his name to the measure.

 

So to sign the treaty would draw his father's disapproval; but to not sign it would earn the enmity of Hun Sen, who has made it patently clear that he feels that an uncooperative monarchy is an expendable institution.

 

Hang Puthea, a prominent political observer who is director of the Cambodian election watchdog group Nicfec, compared Sihamoni's predicament to a Cambodian adage about a person having to choose between getting in a river infested with crocodiles and climbing up onto the shore roamed by tigers.

 

"He finds himself in the unfortunate position of head of state of a country that, once again, is profoundly divided about important issues that may affect its future as a nation," said Julio Jeldres, Sihanouk's official biographer.

 

In a speech on October 17, Hun Sen -- whose iron rule brooks little dissent -- issued a thinly veiled threat to do away with the monarchy should the Sihamoni evade his constitutional duty to sign the treaty.

 

If it proves difficult to get the king's signature, he said, "there must be a review (of the constitution) to see if we should maintain the monarchy or go for a republic to be ruled by a president." He went on to suggest that at least a clause be added to the constitution allowing treaties and laws approved by Parliament to be automatically promulgated if the king fails to sign it by a certain deadline.

 

Sihamoni has so far remained silent. He Tuesday left for China to attend his father's 83rd birthday celebration on October 31, a move which also takes him away from the fray.

A ballet teacher by profession, Sihamoni was crowned king on October 29, 2004, about three weeks after Sihanouk -- a king who led his country to independence from France -- stunned his countrymen with his decision to abdicate.

 

Sihamoni reluctantly accepted his father's decision to name him as successor, and was unanimously selected by a nine-member Throne Council that included Hun Sen, who clearly saw the new king's paucity of political acumen and ambition as posing little threat to his power.

 

Beginning his reign, Sihamoni humbly pledged to be a "faithful and devoted servant" of the people. He has matched his words with visits to the countryside and boat trips to hand out aid to destitute people in flooded villages, winning the hearts on many ordinary Cambodians who revered his father.