Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Sovann’s body in capital

Sovann’s body in capital

A man holds a poster of Pen Sovann yesterday as he travels to Phnom Penh with the former prime minister’s procession.
A man holds a poster of Pen Sovann yesterday as he travels to Phnom Penh with the former prime minister’s procession. Hong Menea

Sovann’s body in capital

The body of former prime minister Pen Sovann arrived at Phnom Penh’s Wat Than pagoda yesterday, with opposition officials and representatives of his family set for a meeting at City Hall today to push the case to cremate him at Wat Botum park.

Municipal officials on Monday rejected a request to hold the cremation at the park – an honour afforded not so long ago to late Cambodian People’s Party icon and Senate President Chea Sim – but opposition lawmaker Pol Ham said the funeral’s organisers still hoped to hold it there.

“[Sovann’s] family and the committee request to hold the cremation in front of Wat Botum, but so far we have not received a positive response,” said Ham, the head of the funeral committee. He added Sovann’s body will be kept at Wat Than until Sunday’s ceremony.

Sovann was Cambodia’s first prime minister after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, and the first general secretary of the communist party that would later become the CPP, but was soon removed from his position by Vietnam. The ruling party has since disowned him. Most recently, he served as a Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker for Kampong Speu.

CNRP spokesman Yem Ponhearith said Long Ry, the party’s head of security, and members of Sovann’s family were set to attend a meeting on the issue at City Hall today.

“Long Ry will have discussions about this issue tomorrow,” Ponhearith said. “The family is asking to cremate [the body] on Sunday morning.”

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the