Cambodia begins funeral procession for Sihanouk

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni cries as a coffin with remains of his father, the late former King Norodom Sihanouk is taken from the Royal Palace towards the crematorium in Phnom Penh, Feb 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

One of the mourners said that the former King Father was the great King, who brought the country peace, national reconciliation and development.

"It is a great loss for Cambodia; the former King is the hero of Cambodia," Sok Sophoan, 63, said tearfully while attending the procession. "The King Father loved his people as if he loved his children. Even though he left us, we still remember him in our hearts forever."

Born on Oct 31, 1922, Sihanouk ruled Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.

He had gone through decades of political and social turmoil in Cambodia, despite long periods of exile overseas.

During his life time, besides politics and social development, Sihanouk was a prolific amateur music and song composer. He had produced numerous works in Khmer, French and English.

The late monarch suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years before his death.

He wrote in a royal letter in January, 2012 that he requested his body to be cremated instead of being buried and his ashes to be put in an urn, preferably made of gold, and placed in a stupa at the Royal Palace.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, the spokesman for the Royal Cabinet and former aide to the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, said Thursday that the urn was made of gold platinum.