Norodom Sihanouk

Norodom Sihanouk: see Sihanouk, Norodom.

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Norodom Sihanouk

 in full Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk

(born Oct. 31, 1922, Phnom Penh, Camb.) Cambodia's king (1941–55 and 1993–2004); he also held other posts. He abdicated in favour of his father in 1955, becoming his father's prime minister; he became head of state on his father's death in 1960. During the Vietnam War he steered a neutral course between the radical right and left in both his foreign and internal policies. Overthrown by Lon Nol in 1970, he campaigned for the Khmer Rouge but was imprisoned after they came to power, and most of his family was killed. Released in the face of a Vietnamese invasion (1979), he denounced both the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge. In 1982 he became president of a fragile coalition of resistance groups. Following UN-sponsored elections in 1993, Cambodia's National Assembly voted to restore the monarchy, and Sihanouk again became king. He abdicated on Oct. 7, 2004, and his son Norodom Sihamoni, chosen to succeed him, was crowned king on October 29.

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Norodom Sihanouk 

Born Oct. 31, 1922, in Phnom Penh. State and political figure of Cambodia; prince.

In 1941, Sihanouk became king of Cambodia. In 1955, after the Cambodian national liberation movement had brought the country to full independence, he abdicated in favor of his father and immersed himself in political activity. In the same year, he created the political organization People’s Socialist Community (Sangkum Reastr Niyum, or Sangkum). At several junctures he was chairman of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia. After his father’s death in 1960, Sihanouk was elected head of state. His policy of peace and neutrality, his friendly relations with the socialist countries, and his progressive socioeconomic measures within Cambodia added to his prestige.

On Mar. 18, 1970, while Sihanouk was abroad, Cambodian rightists, with the support of foreign imperialists, overthrew the government, and Sihanouk was forced to remain in exile. He headed the National United Front of Cambodia from May 1970 until his retirement on April 5, 1976.

K. IUREV [23–981–4; updated]