Cars, motos, tuk-tuks, and trucks packed the stretch of Russian Boulevard in front of Phnom Penh International Airport, as the beloved prince’s body was returned to his final resting place from France.
A group of police officers arranged traffic amid the rush hour. Once the parade started, journalists started Facebook Live streams to mark the prince's achievements throughout his political life.
Some drivers paused their travels and took out phones to take photos and videos of the parade.
On the sidewalk, a group of people stood to catch a glimpse of the vehicle carrying the prince. Long Sambor, 64, came from Dangkor district in Phnom Penh to see the prince’s final parade.
“I am old, I have nothing to do, I just want to see the prince for the last time,” Sambor said. “I deeply regret that we lost him.”
Prince Norodom Ranariddh was critically injured by a traffic accident in 2018, when he was hit by a Highlander taxi when on his way to meet his political supporters in Preah Sihanouk province. His wife Ouk Phalla was killed in the crash.
Sambor believes that the prince would still be strong if the traffic accident had not weakened him.
“I think he died because he suffered from a traffic accident in 2018,” Sambor said.
Prince Norodom Rannariddh passed away on November 28 in France. His body was returned to Cambodia a week after news of his death was shared with the Cambodian public.
Chan Sina, 43, a mobile drink seller in front of the airport, said he is very sorry for the loss of the prince.
“The prince was the one that was involved in the Paris Peace Agreement that put an end to the Cambodian civil war,” Sina said.
“In 1993, he became the first Cambodian prime minister and later head of the National Assembly, head of Funcinpec Party, and chairman of the Supreme Council of the King,” he added. “I am saddened by this because we have lost a veteran politician.”
According to the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals, the ministries, secretariats, and other government institutions will pay respect to the prince from December 5 to 7. The prince's funeral will last for four days at his residence.
The government has set a date for the mourning of the prince on December 8. This is when his body will be cremated at Wat Botum Park.
On his cremation day, all ministries, institutions, schools, private and public hospitals, armed forces, and pagodas across the country are instructed to raise the flag to half of the pole.
Moreover, entertainment programs broadcast on radio and television will be halted.
“I remember his political concession that led to having two prime ministers in one country, which brought peace and stopped the bloodshed between Cambodians,” Pich Sros told Kiripost. Sros is currently a leader of the Cambodian Youth Party and former party official of the prince’s Funcinpec Party.
Sam Vandy, 53, also came to see the parade and said Prince Rannariddh was a great prince who was kind to his people.
“The prince likes helping the poor, we know he loves us,” said Vandy.
