Democracy in Cambodia - Part 2

After the first democratic elections in Cambodia's contemporary history on September 1, 1946, the Democratic Party that won the contest was assigned the task of drafting the first Constitution of the Kingdom. It was done by the Democratic under the laedership of Prince Sisowath Yutevong, then approved and promulgated this day in history, May 6th 1947, 64 years ago. In the old days, May 6th was a holiday. The Constitution was not perfect because it was stated in its Preambule that the Power still came from the King, but it did abolish the absolute monarchy and replaced by a constitutional one.
     For the Khmer people it was kind of Democracy Day. Unfortunately during those years that Cambodia was under French protectorate, situations were still unstettled and true democracy was de facto coming to an end with the Huy Kanthul Government (October 13, 1951 to 15 June, 1952). The National Assembly run by the Democratic Party - in majority - was dissolved by King Norodom Sihanouk on January 13, 1953, and the Kingdom was declared in the state of Emergency. Seven Democratic Party representatives at the National Assembly were arrested, charged with supporting dissident groups.
     King Norodom then formed his own government with Penn Nouth as his delegate and he embarked into his campaign for national independence from France, called Crusade for National Independence.
     The rest of the story of Democracy in Cambodia will continue...

Ref: Previous post on "Democracy in Cambodia Part 1" in the Archives.