Editing Norodom Sihanouk (section)

==Death and funeral==
{{Main|Death and state funeral of Norodom Sihanouk}}
[[File:Ceremonie_cremation_Sihanouk_(1).JPG|thumb|left|King-father Norodom Sihanouk's funeral pyre]]
In January 2012, Sihanouk issued a letter in which he expressed his wish that his body be cremated after his death, and his ashes be interred in a golden urn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/01/09/cambodias-sihanouk-requests-cremation.html|title=Cambodia's Sihanouk requests cremation|date=9 January 2012|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714112712/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/01/09/cambodias-sihanouk-requests-cremation.html|archive-date=14 July 2015|work=The Jakarta Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> A few months later, in September 2012, Sihanouk said that he would not return to Cambodia from Beijing for his 90th birthday, citing fatigue.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/beijing-birthdaybash-king-father|title=Beijing birthday bash for King Father|date=28 September 2012|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707122114/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/beijing-birthdaybash-king-father|archive-date=7 July 2015|work=The Phnom Penh Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 15 October 2012, Sihanouk died of a heart attack at 1:20{{nbsp}}am, Phnom Penh time.<ref>{{cite web|author=David Boyle|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/king-father-norodom-sihanouk-passed-away|title=King Father Norodom Sihanouk passed away|date=15 October 2012|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707194825/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/king-father-norodom-sihanouk-passed-away|archive-date=7 July 2015|work=The Phnom Penh Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> When the news broke, Sihamoni, Hun Sen, and other government officials flew to Beijing to pay their last respects.<ref>{{cite web|author=AKP Phnom Penh|url=http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=25404|title=King and PM Depart for Beijing|date=15 October 2012|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707222545/http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=25404|archive-date=7 July 2015|work=Agence Kampuchea Press|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Cambodian government announced an official mourning period of seven days between 17 and 24 October 2012, and state flags were ordered to fly at one-third height. Two days later, Sihanouk's body was brought back from Beijing on an [[Air China]] flight,<ref>{{cite web|author=AKP Phnom Penh|url=http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=25450|title=Cambodian People Flood to Receive King-Father's Body|date=17 October 2012|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707231951/http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=25450|archive-date=7 July 2015|work=Agence Kampuchea Press|url-status=dead}}</ref> and about 1.2{{nbsp}}million people lined the streets from the airport to the royal palace to witness the return of Sihanouk's cortège.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Cabinet of Hun Sen|author2=Prime Minister of Cambodia|url=http://cnv.org.kh/selected-impromptu-comments-during-the-handing-out-of-land-titles-for-people-in-the-province-of-kompong-chhnangs-rolea-pa-ea-district/|title=Selected Impromptu Comments during the Handing-out of Land Titles for People in the Province of Kompong Chhnang's Rolea Pa Ea District.|date=27 October 2012|access-date=10 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211065537/http://cnv.org.kh/selected-impromptu-comments-during-the-handing-out-of-land-titles-for-people-in-the-province-of-kompong-chhnangs-rolea-pa-ea-district/|archive-date=11 December 2015|work=Cambodia New Vision|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In late November 2012, Hun Sen said that Sihanouk's funeral and cremation were to be carried out in February 2013. Sihanouk's body [[Lying in state|lay in state]] at the royal palace for<ref>{{cite web|author=Vong Sokheng|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/date-set-sihanouk%E2%80%99s-funeral|title=Date set for Sihanouk's funeral|date=27 November 2012|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103930/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/date-set-sihanouk%E2%80%99s-funeral|archive-date=24 September 2015|work=The Phnom Penh Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> the next three months until the funeral was held on 1 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rachel Vandenbrink|url=http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/sihanouk-02012013180325.html/|title='Last Chance' to Pay Respects|date=1 February 2013|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114042/http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/sihanouk-02012013180325.html/|archive-date=24 September 2015|work=Radio Free Asia|url-status=dead}}</ref> A {{convert|6000|m|ft|adj=on}} street procession was held, and Sihanouk's body was subsequently kept at the royal crematorium until 4 February 2013 when his body was cremated.<ref>{{cite web|author=AKP Phnom Penh|url=http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=30355|title=Cambodia's Late King-Father Cremated|date=4 February 2013|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040431/http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=30355|archive-date=4 March 2016|work=Agence Kampuchea Presse|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The following day, the royal family scattered some of Sihanouk's ashes into the [[Chaktomuk|Chaktomauk]] river, while the rest were kept in the palace's throne hall for about a year.<ref>{{cite web|author1=May Titthara|author2=Shane Worrell|name-list-style=amp|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sihanouk%E2%80%99s-ashes-enter-royal-palace|title=Sihanouk's ashes enter the Royal Palace|date=8 February 2013|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125045/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sihanouk%E2%80%99s-ashes-enter-royal-palace|archive-date=24 September 2015|work=The Phnom Penh Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2013, a stupa featuring a [[Norodom Sihanouk Memorial|bronze statue]] of Sihanouk was inaugurated next to the [[Independence Monument (Cambodia)|Independence Monument]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Sen David|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sihanouk-statue-inaugurated|title=Sihanouk statue inaugurated|date=13 October 2013|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125210/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sihanouk-statue-inaugurated|archive-date=24 September 2015|work=The Phnom Penh Post|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2014, Sihanouk's ashes were interred at the [[Silver Pagoda]] next to those of one of his daughters, Princess Norodom Kantha Bopha.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sovannara|url=http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/2757/late-cambodian-king-sihanouk-s-ashes-enshrined-in-stupa-in-royal-palace/&title=late-cambodian-king-sihanouk-s-ashes-enshrined-in-stupa-in-royal-palace|title=Late Cambodian King Sihanouk's Ashes Enshrined in Stupa in Royal Palace|date=13 July 2014|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527114233/https://www.webcitation.org/6b65rxmSn?url=http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/2757/late-cambodian-king-sihanouk-s-ashes-enshrined-in-stupa-in-royal-palace/%26title%3Dlate-cambodian-king-sihanouk-s-ashes-enshrined-in-stupa-in-royal-palace/|archive-date=27 May 2024|work=Khmer Times|url-status=dead}}</ref>