Former king Sihanouk heads to Beijing for check-up

Cambodia’s Norodom Sihanouk (L) yesterday bids farewell to government officials as he boards a plane for Beijing, at Phnom Penh International airport

Cambodia’s ailing former king Norodom Sihanouk left his country again for Beijing yesterday to undergo medical tests, despite a vow to stay in his homeland forever.
The 89-year-old ex-monarch, who is a revered figure in Cambodia, smiled and waved to well-wishers as he was given a red-carpet sendoff by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior government officials at Phnom Penh airport.
It is unclear how long Sihanouk, who is travelling with his wife and their son King Norodom Sihamoni, will remain abroad.
The ex-monarch has suffered from a number of ailments in recent years, including cancer, diabetes and hypertension. He has been a frequent visitor to China, where he received the bulk of his treatment.
After returning in October from a previous stay of almost three months in Beijing, Sihanouk told his compatriots that he would never leave Cambodia again, in a speech to mark the 20th anniversary of his return from exile.
But his medical needs have made it impossible to keep that promise, Sihanouk’s personal secretary Prince Sisowath Thomico told AFP.
“The Chinese doctors can travel to treat him in Cambodia, but they can’t bring their equipment with them so they asked him to go to China for a check-up,” Thomico said.
“His health is still good,” he added. “He is still strong.”
One of Asia’s longest-serving monarchs, the former king abruptly quit the throne in October 2004 in favour of his son, citing old age and health problems.