Prince Norodom Ranariddh Cremated in Phnom Penh
The former FUNCINPEC leader and Cambodia Prince Norodom Ranariddh was laid to rest and cremated in Phnom Penh with royalty and top government officials paying their respects. Photo by Chhum Chantha
- By Teng Yalirozy
- December 8, 2021 4:28 PM
The former FUNCINPEC leader and Cambodia Prince Norodom Ranariddh was laid to rest and cremated in Phnom Penh with royalty and top government officials paying their respects
PHNOM PENH--King Norodom Sihamoni on Dec. 8 offered fire to cremate the body of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, his half-brother, at Wat Botum Park in Phnom Penh. Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk also attended a cremation ceremony.
On the day of the cremation, Prime Minister Hun Sen informed all ministries, institutions, schools, public and private hospitals, government officials, all kinds of armed forces, pagodas, and as well as people across the country to lower the Cambodian flag to half-mast in honor of the deceased prince.
National and private radio and television stations, on the other hand, suspended performances and broadcasts of specials on the day of the funeral.
The Cambodian government designated Dec. 8 as the official day of mourning marking the death of Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
Hun Sen also led government officials attending the cremation ceremony of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of the FUNCINPEC political party.
He expressed his condolences for the loss of Prince Ranariddh, saying that this was the loss of a noble person in the royal family, who was patriotic, religious, with will, conscience, wit and intelligence.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh passed away at the age of 77 on Nov. 28 in France at 3:40 p.m. Cambodia time due to chronic illness.
Chap Nhalivuth, Prince Ranariddh’s half-brother, said the prince had been sick since a car accident that took place during the political campaign of the 2018 national elections in which he had been critically injured.
The body of Prince Ranariddh was returned to Cambodia at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2021.
King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk donated $120,000 for the funeral of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, of which King Sihamoni donated $20,000 while Queen Mother donated $100,000.
