The body of Prince Norodom Ranariddh will arrive in Cambodia on December 5 for a traditional Khmer funeral to be held at his former residence on Samdech Pan Street in the capital’s Daun Penh district, said Funcinpec spokesman Nhoeun Raden on December 2.
The funeral will be organised by a committee established in a decision signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on December 2.
"The committee will organise a funeral procession for [Prince Ranariddh] because he is the late King Father’s son and he was also chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council to the King, among other titles. Therefore, the procession for his body must be well-prepared to be worthy of his honour,” he said.
Prince Ranariddh – who served as First Prime Minister following an election organised by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1993 and then National Assembly president – passed away on November 28 at the age of 77 in France, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was also president of the FUNCINPEC party.
Raden said that before his death, the prince had written a letter of authorisation for his son Prince Norodom Chakravuth to become the acting chairman of the King’s supreme advisory council as well as the leader of Funcinpec in the event of his passing.
"This is what the party was prepared for ... only [Ranariddh’s] son can lead Funcinpec in the future and the announcement that he is the new party president will be made officially after the funeral is over,” he said.
King Norodom Sihamoni – who is Ranariddh’s younger half-brother – and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk have provided $120,000 to cover the costs of the funeral.
