Cambodia holds state funeral for CPP President Chea Sim

According to a VNA correspondent in Cambodia, on the morning of June 19, in the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia held a state funeral for Mr. Chea Sim, President of the Cambodian Senate, President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Vice President of the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation, who passed away on June 8, 2015, at the age of 83.

Chea Sim's coffin was carried through the streets of Phnom Penh to the crematorium. (Photo: VNA)

The State Funeral was attended by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, Mahayana Monk King Tep Vong, Hinayana Monk King Bour Kry, Prime Minister of the Royal Government Hun Sen, President of the Senate Sai Chhum, President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin and many high-ranking officials of the Royal Family, Senate, National Assembly, Royal Government, along with about 30,000 people in the capital Phnom Penh and provinces and cities across the country.

Attending the funeral were Mr. Le Thanh Hai, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; diplomatic missions and international organizations in Phnom Penh.

According to the Cambodian National Funeral Organizing Committee, from June 8 to 18, hundreds of domestic and international delegations, including the Vietnamese Party and State delegation led by Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, came to pay their respects to Mr. Chea Sim.

Chea Sim's body, placed in a coffin with a phoenix symbol, decorated according to Cambodian national customs, left his home in Chamca Mon district, was transported on major streets including Preah Norodom Avenue, through Independence Square, along Sihanouk and Sothearos streets before arriving at the Cremation Hall at Wat Botum in central Phnom Penh.

In his eulogy read at the funeral, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Vice President of the CPP Hun Sen emphasized, "With the passing of Samdech Chea Sim, the country, the Cambodian people and the CPP have lost a noble leader who devoted his life to national independence and especially overcame all obstacles to liberate the nation, build peace, national harmony, protect, rebuild and develop the Cambodian Fatherland."

The eulogy emphasized that since he grew up, Mr. Chea Sim had participated in the movement for Cambodia's independence early on and especially "in the mission of fighting for national liberation, as Vice President of the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation, Samdech Chea Sim, together with Samdech Heng Samrin, Samdech Hun Sen and other noble members, led the struggle to liberate the nation and people from the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979."

According to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s circular signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on the night of June 8, on the national day of mourning, June 19, all state and private offices and private residences will fly flags at half-mast; entertainment venues will temporarily suspend operations; all state and private radio and television stations will stop entertainment programs; civil servants and armed forces will be given a day off on June 19 to pay their respects and pray for Mr. Chea Sim.

Cambodian Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said that soldiers from the military police force, in conjunction with the national police force, were deployed at the funeral area and nearby locations from June 18-20 to ensure safety and security for the state funeral of Mr. Chea Sim.

Previously, on June 9, one day after Mr. Chea Sim passed away, the Cambodian Senate held an extraordinary session to elect Mr. Sai Chhum as the new President. According to the official announcement on June 20, the CPP will hold its 38th Conference to elect a new CPP President and Vice President.

According to the CPP spokesman, CPP Vice President Hun Sen is the only candidate for the new CPP President position, while many reliable sources said that Mr. Sai Chhum, Standing Committee Member, Head of the Standing Committee of the CPP Standing Committee, and Mr. Sar Kheng, Standing Committee Member of the CPP Central Committee will be elected as co-Vice Presidents of the CPP./.

(According to VNA/VN+)