Zombie-King-Father Sihanouk

Always in the spotlight (even when he’s not the king), Sihanouk has been getting a bit more press this last week than previously. In addition to declaring his desire to remain in the Royal Compound as a zombie, the New York Times has published a recollection of the 1955 elections (the first after his abdication from the throne to enter politics). DAS brought it to my attention.

Receiving surrendering weapons from Dap Chhuon Khmer Issarak group [via KI-Media]

In his book Sihanouk: Prince of Light, Prince of Darkness, Milton Osborne includes the following quote:

The campaign for the September 1955 elections has been better documented than any other that took place while Sihanouk was in power. It was marked by widespread corruption and substantial violence. Terror was used as a weapon against candidates and their supporters by all sides, but most particularly by those backing the Sangkum. Just how many died is not certain. What is beyond dispute is that Dap Chhuon’s agents systematically intimidated their opponents, disrupting rallies, assaulting vote canvassers, and ensuring that only Sangkum posters were left untouched. (p.97)

In separate news, KI-Media printed a few vintage photos of the “Hot Rabbit” (which is how Sihanouk refers to himself during his youthful sexual escapades), including this rather bizarre one:

This is such a strange photo: Sihanouk, in a French-inspired military uniform, is ‘inspecting’ villagers who are drilling in ‘modern military style,’ but apparently without anything like, say, uniforms, shoes, or even…weapons.

UPDATE: Regarding the photo immediately above, Jinja surmises that

This looks like ‘Chivapol’ troops (Sihanouk’s Nationalist-in waiting troops that started training before independence with wooden rifles.) Svay Ken had good memories of this era and even did an exhibition at the royale of his time in this organization. (He even sang us one of their songs!) link.