Funeral

More about the King-Father's funeral. Apologies for laziness but have cut and pasted an article from a Chinese news site (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/11/c_132097137.htm)......

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 11,000 security forces will be deployed in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to ensure security and public order during the procession and funeral of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk on Feb. 1 and 4, police spokesman said Friday.

"About 11,000 police, military police, anti-terrorism forces, and bodyguards will be deployed in the city from Feb. 1-7 during the late King Father's cremation," Lt. Gen. Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police, told Xinhua over telephone. "Security will be tightened during this time."

Sihanouk died of illness at the age of 90 in Beijing on Oct. 15, last year. Currently, his body is lying in state at Cambodian capital's Royal Palace for the public to pay tribute.

According to a circular signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday, Sihanouk's body will be moved from the Royal Palace to a custom-built crematorium at the Meru field next to the Palace on Feb. 1 and kept it for another three days at the site before it is cremated on Feb. 4.

It is expected that at least a million people will come onto the streets of the capital to accompany the procession of moving the King's body from the Palace to the cremation site.

To ease congestion, all television channels and radios in the country will live broadcast the procession and funeral of the most revered former monarch, said the circular.

The country also announced the second time of a week-long mourning for the King Father from Feb. 1-7. During the period, all radios and TV stations as well as entertainment places are ordered to suspend broadcasting and performing joyful spectacles, performances, and concerts.

In addition, flags must be all flying at half-mast and all Cambodian people should pin black ribbons to their shirts as a sign of mourning.