Cambodia King Pays Visit as Rebel Base Is Retaken

King Norodom Sihanouk returned to Cambodia from China on Saturday on his first trip home since he granted a controversial pardon to his son, deposed co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

Also Saturday, the Cambodian army said a key Khmer Rouge base had fallen. Pro-government forces recaptured the Khmer Rouge base at Anlong Veng on Tuesday, and guerrillas were fleeing to the Dangrek Mountains near Thailand, Gen. Meas Sophea said.

“The end of the Khmer Rouge is very near,” said Meas Sophea, the Cambodian army deputy chief of staff.

Meanwhile, a Cambodian newspaper quoted Sihanouk as saying he would support U.S. efforts to bring former Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot to trial.

“Pol Pot is one of the most horrible monsters ever created by humanity. He deserves to be judged and condemned by an international court of justice,” Sihanouk said.

Sihanouk’s trip from China, where he has been receiving medical treatment, came several days before the traditional Cambodian new year holiday.

“Very good,” the king, 75, replied when asked about his health.

Ranariddh was ousted by his junior coalition partner, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, last July and subsequently charged with smuggling weapons and plotting a coup.

But under a Japanese-brokered peace plan, Sihanouk granted Ranariddh a royal pardon last month after the prince was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $50 million in damages.

Ranariddh returned to Cambodia for a four-day visit March 30.