S History Today, November 14, 1991: Father Of Cambodian Independence, Norodom Sihanouk Returns From Assistance In China

Norodom Sihanouk was named King of Cambodia on May 3, 1941. (Living Cambodia)

JAKARTA History today, 32 years ago, November 14, 1991, the Father of Independence, Norodom Sihanouk returned to Cambodia after being exiled for 20 years in China. His return was greeted with great fanfare. Thousands of people spilled over welcoming him at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Previously, Sihanouk was considered a king and leader with integrity. He was like a hero who expelled the French colonialists from the land nicknamed a Land of Peace and Prosperity. Sihanouk also allied with the radical communist movement, the Red Khmer.

Life like a king without a crown has been felt by Norodom Sihanouk. He was crowned King of Cambodia in 1941. One year Cambodia's notabene is still controlled by the French colonial government. Automatically his power is limited.

Sihanouk is certainly not afraid of the French colonialists. He continues to voice the independence agenda in international forums. In fact, he deliberately traveled for the sake of Cambodia's independence. His exploration of France was clearly undermined on the international stage.

The struggle brought results. He was transformed like a symbol of national unity. The turmoil of the Cambodian people was waiting for independence to emerge everywhere. The result was brilliant. Cambodian independence was achieved in 1953. The people also called him the Father of the Nation.

His political career is smooth. He was able to lead Cambodia well. However, his status as king tried to be released in 1955. The title of King was then handed over to his father, Norodom Suramarit. He prefers to carry out his new duties as Prime Minister of Cambodia.

However, the people still recognize him as king. This power is proven because the Cambodian people often support him in every political contestation. However, Sihanouk's leadership began to side with China.

This support was shown by his desire to be allied with the Khmer Merah radical communist movement. In fact, the Red Khmer did not always want to be allied with Sihanouk. The Cambodian leader was ousted by the Red Khmer.

The overthrow was perpetuated when Sihanouk perpetuated a foreign tour in 1970. Sihanouk took power in 1975. However, he resigned one year later. Sihanouk was replaced by a radical Pol Pot.

The resignation made Sihanouk run over. Khmer Merah made him under house arrest in 1979. After that, the king was exiled to China.

The Prince of Sihanouk as a symbol of national reference represents China's interests, in the sense that the prince's political advantage is expected to ward off the long-standing influence of Vietnam in Indocina. What is now debated is Sihanouk's ability to establish a new political order, which can be a place to tame and bring back the four factions.

He did succeed in the past, but only in a limited period. During 1955 until he was ousted in 1970, Sihanouk came to power through elections, as a leader of the Socialist Popular Society who has a mass The problem is that Sihanouk is now approaching the age of his seventh head, and the time he had is shorter than in 1955, wrote a Tempo Magazine report entitled Sihanouk and Cambodia's Future (1991).

The power of the Red Khmer found a deadlock in 1979. Vietnam was able to bombard the power of the Red Khmer. Conditions got worse when Vietnam chose to leave Cambodia in 1989. Civil war also occurred due to a power vacuum.

The narrative made Sihanouk in exile worried. He continues to seek information regarding the current condition of the country. At its peak, after 20 years on people's land, Sihanouk returned to Cambodia on November 14, 1991. His return was greeted with great fanfare. The people wanted him to lead Cambodia again. Even in 1993 he took the throne as king and led Cambodia again.

Happy Norodom Sihanouk returned to Cambodia today after spending most of his last 20 years in exile. The goal of longstanding in exile is elusive, even impossible, namely to build permanent peace in his shattered country.

While perpetuating the traditional Cambodian greeting, the 69-year-old prince slowly appeared this morning from the Chinese jet plane that brought him home. Sihanouk bowed with gratitude to thousands of people. Cambodians who gathered at Phnom Penh international airport to celebrate his arrival," Philip Shannon said in his writing in The New York Times newspaper entitledJoyous Sihanouk Returns to Cambodia From Exile (1991).

Norodom Sihanouk was born in Phnom Penh on October 31, 1922. He died at the age of 89 while being treated for heart problems in Beijing, China on October 15, 2012. His body was buried for four months at the Royal Palace, before being cremated on February 4, 2013.