Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-16
b GERALD WARRG

PaNOM PENN. Camhodia. - A
new dictatorship. presumably bene-
violent. appears 70 be developing in
this Indo-C Chinese kingdom. with
former King Norodom Sihanouk
holding the real power rs prime
minister to his father. King Moro
dom Suramarit.
The 32-year old Prince Sihanouk
describes his plans for constitutional
changes Is the basis for Z new kind
Of democracy which viii express the
win 81 the people.
y informed sources here say that
Silanouk's program. which he can
implement because his Hangklim
Party took All 81 seats tn the Sep
TENDER II election for the National
Assembly. Is based on his belief that
Cambodia's million people are not
ready for and do not want the
party system Of parliamentary gov-s.
eminent practiced BY Western
nations. B.
Under Cambodia's 194T constitli-
ton. which has proven unavoidable,
the people elect the members Of the
National Assembly. However. the
constitution may be amended by
tWo-thirds vote Of the assembly.
and since all the assemhlynnen are
SihanOuk,s adherents, the prince Is
preparing to proceed Immediately
with his program of constitutional
reform
Under this program, the people
viii elect only their village leaders. :
Collectively these village mayors viii
compose IA provincial legislatures
new bodies which win be created.
Members Of the National Assembly.
to be renamed the Peoples Assem-
bly,. viii be chosen by the provincial
legislatures.
One Man Rule
Moreover, the assembly viii not
have control over the administra-
ton. This Is 3 prerOgative 6itancuk
is retaining for himself, either as
prime minister. the post he has
accepted for three months. or in
an llnoficiai capacity through his
enormous personal control Of the
Cambodian people. But while the
assembly viii not be able to over
turn the government. it viii have
power to veto individual cabinet
appointments or Dust individual
cabinet ministers for cause.
AS competent western observers
analyze Sihanouk,s plan to end the
imposition of parliamentary gov
eminent from the top and make q
fresh effort to create q parlimen-
tary system from the bottom, the
election Of local mayors viii not
compensate for loss Of the right to
elect assemblymen directly. Real
power. they point out. IL not ct the
local level Of government. but 1T
the national level.
As 81 result, they say. the pro-
posed changes win set the stage for
SihanOuk TO run Cambodia. And
general opinion here Is that he Ia
the only man who can do the Job.
As one experienced western d.
plomat put It. the choice isn't be-
tween democracy and dictatorship
rs the Western World understands
1t. It's between o benevolent dicta-
torship at the hands Of 6ihanouk.
and political chaos at the hands Of
the corrupt oligarcfy which for
Inerly ruled Canbcdia.
Uncertainty Over
Events since the September II
election have ended much Of the
political uncertainty which followed
Sihanouk's abdication I'VE months
ago in favor 81 his parents. At that
time he had promised an election to
give Cambodians . chance to ap-
prove or disapprove his actions dur
ing three years Of personal rule.
when the constitution was virtually
suspended.
He had already held a refer
endum. In February, to let the
people decide on retention or aboli-
ton Of the monarchy. and 1888 per
cent Of the votes cast were reported
TO have been for the monarchy
Thus encouraged. Sihanouk welded
various royalist parties and other
political factions into the sangkum
Party In hope Of getting . parlia-
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