Sihanouk Tells Cambodians His Health Is Failing

A visibly weak King Norodom Sihanouk told Cambodians on Sunday that his health is failing and that he may not have long to live.

Speaking on national television, the 76-year-old monarch said periodic convulsions and waning physical strength have forced him to drastically cut back public appearances and remain within the grounds of his palace.

“Every day I deteriorate physically,” Sihanouk said. “I get tired quickly when I move around. Convulsions strike me that could cause me to collapse. I am flanked [by bodyguards] on both sides to prevent me from falling down.”

The king, who first took the throne in 1941, is greatly revered by his people but wields little real power. Nonetheless, he repeatedly has been a stabilizing force in Cambodia’s often-violent political arena.

Recalling two recent mild strokes, Sihanouk attributed his continued survival to the skill of his Chinese doctors and various medications.

He has suffered from a variety of illnesses over the years and often makes extended stays in Beijing for treatment. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1993, but it has since gone into remission.