39. The Abdication

Today in history 56 years ago, the 2^nd Day of March, 1955, after 14 years of reign and on his own will, King Norodom Sihanouk decided to abdicate from the throne of the Kingdom of Cambodia. This event had grave implications in the future political life of Cambodia that just acquired complete independence from Cambodia, one and half year ago, on November 9, 1953.

      The King’s decision at that time, in my opinion, was driven by his desire to continue to exert his Executive power; and with the restriction in the Kingdom Constitution of May 6, 1947, there is no choice for Him but to abdicate and to go into politics. 

      The Throne was then passed to his Father, King Norodom Suramarith, and Prince Sihanouk becoming Head of State, came out to form the Sangkum Reastr Niyum. After a few elections, other political parties disappear one after another, and the country was ruled by a sole party system. And Democracy in Cambodia was only on paper, since then.

      I was still in the Lycee (High School) Sisowath and I have a lot of admiration for the King with his successful Crusade for Independence, but now in retrospect, I begin to wonder about the outcomes of his decision. This decision to abdicate is good or bad for the country? – I only can speculate. Originally I want to title this post “The Beginning of the End” because I think that the abdication would lead, with ups and downs, to the end of the Khmer Monarchy. That happened 15 years later with the March 18, 1970 event, and the dark ages that follow.      

      I was thinking that if the King would not abdicate in 1955, He would stay put as the Father of the nation – He was already named “Father of Khmer Independence” - , providing guidance to all leaders to do good things for the nation, and building a model Monarchy; the country may not turn upside down with the 1970 revolution followed by the Khmer Rouge iron fist rules, etc. That was perfectly possible under the “Constitutional Monarchy” system.

      Fortunately and against all odds and thanks to the United Nations Intervention, subsequent to the Paris Political Settlement of the Cambodian Conflict signed October 23, 1991, and the people choice Prince Sihanouk was crowned again according to new Constitution promulgated on September 24, 1993. A few years later King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated again…

     It will be the object of another story.