Norodom Yuvaneath

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prince Norodom Yuvaneath (b. 17 October 1943 in Phnom Penh) is a son of the former king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk and Princess Sisowath Pongsanmoni. He is the half-brother of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni.

1 Personal life
2 Government
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Personal life

In 1957, under the direction of socialist-leaning Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Ankar Khamarak Kayarith was transformed into the "Royal Socialist Khmer Youth", with Sihanouk himself serving as president of the state ruled organization, now controlled by the Royal government. The 2,000 members and the leaders of Cambodian Scouting were permitted by the government to carry on activities. Scouts and Scout leaders attended the World Jamboree in 1959 in the Philippines, among them Prince Norodom Yuvaneath. Soon after, Prince Norodom Sihanouk announced the dissolution of the Cambodian Boy Scout Association, whose members were subsequently integrated into the JSRK, a government sponsored national socialist youth movement.

Norodom Yuvaneath married Yin Kim in June of 1962. In 1970 after the coup by General Lon Nol, the Norodom family fled to Bejing where they lived until 1980 when Yuvaneath moved his family to Connecticut in the United States. Yuvaneath has three children, Prince Norodom Veakchearavouth, Princess Norodom Pekina who still lives in Connecticut and works for Timex,^[1] and Princess Norodom Yuveakdevi. He was educated at the prestigious Lycée Sisowath. In addition to his native Khmer, the prince also speaks French and English.

[edit] Government

In 1993, after the Vietnamese left Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk returned to Cambodia and, on December 31 of that year, elevated Prince Yuvaneath to the rank of Sdech Krom Luon, appointing him Privy Counsellor to His Majesty the King, a rank equal to that of Deputy Prime Minister.^[2] After King Sihanouk abdicated in favor of the crown prince, the new king appointed Yuvaneath the Supreme Royal Advisor.^[3] In this capacity, Yuvaneath proclaimed his opposition to the tribunal of former Khmer Rouge leaders, believing that the 1975-1979 turmoil resulting in the massacre of over 2 million Cambodians was a result of foreign invervention by the Vietnamese and Thai governments. Yuvaneath also stated his belief that a trial would be contrary to the interests of national reconciliation. Despite Yuvaneath's opposition to the tribunal, neither the king nor Sihanouk has made a public statement about trials.^[3] Yuvaneath is also a Commander of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon.