A nation pays respects

They came from down the road and from across the country, trailing flags and portraits in their wake. They paused to pin thin black ribbons and coarse patches of cloth onto blazing white shirts. And, one by one, starting early yesterday morning, Cambodian mourners lined the streets of Phnom Penh to meet the King Father’s body as it returned to its homeland. By the time the plane carrying the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk touched down at Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday afternoon, the crowd across the capital had swelled to more than a million people, by Ministry of Information estimates – although the municipality put the figure at closer to 100,000. … Dozens of vehicles joined the procession, dropping off dignitaries including the late King’s daughters Princess Norodom Arun Rasmy and Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Deputy Prime Ministers Sok An and Nhek Bun Chhay, and Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Half a dozen members of the Chinese delegation followed closely behind.  … A royal decree was issued yesterday to establish a national committee for preparation of the funeral ceremony. That body will be headed by Senate President Chea Sim, with National Assembly President Heng Samrin as deputy, Prime Minister Hun Sen as standby deputy, and Minister of Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol as permanent deputy. …

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012101859295/National-news/a-nation-pays-respects.html