QUOTE
Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk, may now be known as “His Royal Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, Greatest Hero King, the Great Royal Father of National Independence, Territorial Integrity and Unity”
The new royal title is a tribute by Cambodian lawmakers to the former king who abdicated 2 weeks ago.
The 82-year-old former monarch has been succeeded by his son King Norodom Sihamoni.
But why is there a need for a new royal title for the ex-king?
A question Valarie Tan asked Dr Tim Winter, a post-doctoral fellow from the Asian Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.
TW: Generally for him to act as an adviser, to the young king. To use his 50-60 years of experience, to be continuing to offer advice to the young monarch in that new role, he is to perform in a very difficult political situation.
What kind of role will the former king play in Cambodian politics then?
TW: On the surface, not a great deal. I mean he’s marginalized in recent years as the political situation has swung towards the Hun Sen direction. But he still plays a very symbolic role. And he’s still reveled by the vast majority of the population. So as an advisor and he will be residing in Siam Reap which will be a change from his recent residence in Beijing and I think he will still play a symbolic powerful role in the country.
Its been said that the ex-monarch is known for his strengths in deal-making. What other attributes does the ex-king have?
TW: Oh many. He’s been known in his career to have a huge charisma which has carried him through many difficult political situations. He’s notorious for his sense of playfulness, his filmmaking throughout his career. And that has guided his sense of political direction as well throughout the recent decades.
Politicians in the country said that the former King Sihanouk can help in resolving national problems. Would you agree with that?
TW: In some respects yes. He’s always been the father of the kingdom, certainly the father of the independence since the country’s independence. So in that respect he has been a unifying figure for the country. And obviously Cambodia’s unrest has been well-documented in the past decade. And so he’s been the figure that’s been a unifying player within that difficult quagmire or period.
But do you think the former king is willing to contribute because his previous efforts to mediate the formation of a government were rebuffed by feuding Cambodian political parties?
TW: That’s very difficult to say. I mean that was his, the impetus for him to abdicate. He was frustrated with the current political situation. He was very fearful of a greater unrest. And that he could actually die without having that situation resolved. So in that respect, he has already taken steps to assess the political situation at the moment.
But on the other side, will political parties listen to him then? He had problems mediating the formation of government with them.
TW: Yes, again its very difficult to say. Possibly not. He’s been muted and that’s been self-imposed in some respects, through his exile. But that will be difficult to say at what level or what type of political role he will be able to play in the future. In some respects, I think he is attempting to detach himself further and further by taking the steps to abdicate.
The new royal title is a tribute by Cambodian lawmakers to the former king who abdicated 2 weeks ago.
The 82-year-old former monarch has been succeeded by his son King Norodom Sihamoni.
But why is there a need for a new royal title for the ex-king?
A question Valarie Tan asked Dr Tim Winter, a post-doctoral fellow from the Asian Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.
TW: Generally for him to act as an adviser, to the young king. To use his 50-60 years of experience, to be continuing to offer advice to the young monarch in that new role, he is to perform in a very difficult political situation.
What kind of role will the former king play in Cambodian politics then?
TW: On the surface, not a great deal. I mean he’s marginalized in recent years as the political situation has swung towards the Hun Sen direction. But he still plays a very symbolic role. And he’s still reveled by the vast majority of the population. So as an advisor and he will be residing in Siam Reap which will be a change from his recent residence in Beijing and I think he will still play a symbolic powerful role in the country.
Its been said that the ex-monarch is known for his strengths in deal-making. What other attributes does the ex-king have?
TW: Oh many. He’s been known in his career to have a huge charisma which has carried him through many difficult political situations. He’s notorious for his sense of playfulness, his filmmaking throughout his career. And that has guided his sense of political direction as well throughout the recent decades.
Politicians in the country said that the former King Sihanouk can help in resolving national problems. Would you agree with that?
TW: In some respects yes. He’s always been the father of the kingdom, certainly the father of the independence since the country’s independence. So in that respect he has been a unifying figure for the country. And obviously Cambodia’s unrest has been well-documented in the past decade. And so he’s been the figure that’s been a unifying player within that difficult quagmire or period.
But do you think the former king is willing to contribute because his previous efforts to mediate the formation of a government were rebuffed by feuding Cambodian political parties?
TW: That’s very difficult to say. I mean that was his, the impetus for him to abdicate. He was frustrated with the current political situation. He was very fearful of a greater unrest. And that he could actually die without having that situation resolved. So in that respect, he has already taken steps to assess the political situation at the moment.
But on the other side, will political parties listen to him then? He had problems mediating the formation of government with them.
TW: Yes, again its very difficult to say. Possibly not. He’s been muted and that’s been self-imposed in some respects, through his exile. But that will be difficult to say at what level or what type of political role he will be able to play in the future. In some respects, I think he is attempting to detach himself further and further by taking the steps to abdicate.
Isn't he the same guy who made movies, stayed in communist countries such as China and North Korea, and sided with the murderous KR to keep his @$$ on the throne decades ago? Must be one hell of a hero.
What exactly did he do to deserve to be called Greatest Hero King? 
I guess he is trying to steal the throne from the TRUE GREATEST KHMER HERO KING, Jayavarman...o well, word mean nothing...
