In just over three years of Pol Pot's rule in Cambodia, the Cambodian population has been reduced by 1/3, the Cambodian royal family has been almost exterminated, and even 19 relatives of King Sihanouk have been killed.
King Sihanouk had a total of fourteen children, all living until 1975, except for Princess Gandapha, who died at the age of three and Prince Rawwang, who died of illness at the Pol Pot base in 1973. Cambodian women generally marry early, and Princess Suryalensai and Princess Podong Pahua, who are in their 20s, have five or six children.
Prince Yuwana, Prince Shakapon, and Prince Ranari were very clever, and resolutely refused to return to Cambodia with King Sihanouk, preferring to settle in a foreign country as civilians, so they escaped with their lives. The princes and princesses who followed King Sihanouk back to Cambodia, as well as their partners and children, were killed.
When King Sihanouk and Queen Monilje were placed under house arrest in the Cambodian royal palace, their two sons, Prince Sihamoni and Prince Norindala, were both in foreign countries, Prince Sihamoni was studying film in Pyongyang, and Prince Norindala was attending university in Moscow, only to be tricked back to Cambodia by Pol Pot with a fake telegram and placed under house arrest in the palace.
The other princes and princesses were not as fortunate as the two sons born to Queen Monilie, who were sent to the countryside to work and then brutally murdered.
The five princes and princesses killed were Prince Naradipo, Prince Kemanurak, Princess Suryarensee, Princess Podongpahua, and Princess Sujata. Prince Naladipo and Prince Kemanurak were sent to China to study and grew up in China. Prince Naladipo was well versed in Chinese history and culture and was succeeded by King Sihanouk.
After Sihanouk escaped from Pol Pot's control in 1979, he learned that his 19 relatives had been killed.
King Sihanouk said to his granddaughter-in-law Jean-Marie Gombaceres (author of The Unsinkable King - Sihanouk): "Every night at two o'clock I wake up, and I feel heartache and cannot sleep peacefully at the thought of the wronged spirits of my children and grandchildren. ”
Some people say that King Sihanouk has many descendants, and he doesn't care if some of his descendants are killed. This was so wrong that King Sihanouk was so heartbroken that he could not sleep at night for these slain descendants.
King Sihanouk once said to an Italian female journalist: "Miss, I look very happy, in fact I am a tragic figure." "
Many people say that King Sihanouk's life was glorious and rich, which was a great blessing. But he also had his misfortune, and his descendants were ordered to kill 19 by Pol Pot, which was the pain of his life, it was almost heart-wrenching.
Reference: The Sihanoukville Family
The Unsinkable King – Sihanoukville