One of these girls was eliminated because the organizers of Cambodia's Freshie contest felt the other three were more beautiful. Choose who you think was eliminated and who is the most beautiful. The answer will appear at the bottom of this column - (Freshie photos)

Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA Part 3 - ASIA'S MONARCHS on Channel News Asia

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

For centuries many Asian cultures perceive their king to be a god on earth and to be worshiped. For many they continue to embrace these beliefs - THE FRESHIE GIRL ANSWER from Part 2 of the parallels to American Idol - Recommended TV Listings

Monday March 15, 2010

THE CAMBODIAN ROYALTY

A must see program Asia's Monarchs aired on Channel New Asia (CNA) last night (Sunday) and is a must see. It focused on how important monarchies are in various countries where the king is perceived as being a god on earth.

The first of the series was Cambodia. The program began with how a traveler from India became a part of the Khmer culture as the legend goes that he shot an arrow into the boat of a Khmer princess. Out of fear she married him.

The building of monuments in the honor of monarchs such as Angkor Wat by Jayavarman II who was born in 802 was to show their strength and the obedience of their subjects. The subjects were taxed but they paid with their labor and not money. Angkor Wat took 40 years to build by a labor force of 300 thousand people.

To this day many Khmers continue to look upon royalty as being gods on earth to be worshiped.

At one time the Khmer empire was the largest in the region only over time to be invaded by Thailand and Vietnam and in the process had much of their land taken away.

The TV program focused on the rising power of monarchs and how the French save Cambodia from the invasions of Vietnam who appointed the Cambodian kings.

In 1857 the French intervened and took occupation of the land in 1863 as a French protectorate. The French occupation of Cambodia gave them a great deal of resources. In 1864 the French selected Norodom Sihanouk as the king. Sihanouk died in 1904 and was replaced by King Sisowath until he died in 1927.

In 1941 the French appointed 19-year-old Norodom Sihanouk. After World War 2 the French installed a new constitution and Norodom refused a constitutional monarchy. In 1955 the French granted Cambodia their independence and Norodom persuaded them to leave the country. There was an election in 1955.

A Khmer noted on the program that in 1964-65 Cambodia was richer than Singapore. In 1963 Norodom cut off US financial assistance and aligned with China.

Norodom was viewed as being vain when he produced and starred in his own films. He was considered a playboy. With his focus on producing films his leadership was questioned and Vietnam invaded again.

In 1970 there was a coup d'état and the US backed Lon Nol government and Sihanouk went into exile in China. He aligned himself with the Khmer Rouge with the belief that if they seized power that he would be reinstated as king.

The Khmer Rouge killed 30% of the Cambodian population. In 1979 Vietnam invaded Cambodia and put down the Khmer rouge. Khmer refugees on the Thai border returned to their country only to see the devastation the Khmer Rouge had done and their rice fields were destroyed. The French occupation of Cambodia gave them a great deal of resources.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk - (NR photo)

In 1979 Vietnam appointed former Khmer Rouge member Hun Sen to be in charge of the country. In 1989 the Vietnamese left Cambodia. In 1993 there was an election resulting in two Prime Ministers Hun Sen and Norodom's son Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk. Rannaridh represented the Royal party Funcinpec and was eventually forced out by Hun Sen.

During the 90's Sihanouk and the Royalty's power waned while Hun Sen's popularity increased. In part intimidation was a factor. The reasons being were stated by a Khmer on the program that Khmers, "Do not have the freedom of expression. They are scared."

His statements are valid as dissenters of Hun Sen and the CCP have been put in jail, disappeared or are found dead.

In 2004 in a surprise Norodom abdicated the throne and appointed his son Norodom Sihamoni as his replacement. At the time Sihamoni was a dancer living in France.

This is a program worth seeing in reruns or as a DVD. The show indicates that royal figures a valued in some societies. Next weeks program will feature the royalty of Nepal.

THE FRESHIE GIRL ANSWER from Part 2

Cambodia's Freshie girl number one was eliminated in the top 20 as not being beautiful. The other girls made it to the top 7 and number 3 made it to the top 5. The result of our feedback from our colleagues all chose number one as the most beautiful and number 3 had zero votes. Most ironically number 3 made it to the qualified to the final five while all of the other contestants' pictures were eliminated. Who was your choice?

But there is more to this sordid tale that doesn't meet the eye. Number 3 was under age and gave her age as being two years older. She entered the contest without her parents consent or knowledge. She said she was a Khmer residing in Singapore but actually lived in Cambodia. When the organizers were informed of this situation they ignored it although they previously claimed that integrity was a factor of who succeeds in the competition.

These are some of the parallels of American Idol and contests organized in Asia. Though the exposure and benefits are greater on American Idol the integrity factor comes into play. One could rationalize that American Idol is overreacting in their selection of talent for fear of having more skeletons fall out of their closet. The bottom line is that this season American Idol is the most boring ever. In Asia apparently having integrity doesn't make a difference.

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

3:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN

9:00 PM - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

10:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN

9:00 PM - UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING) - True Sport 2

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

6:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

6:30 PM - ASIAS MONARCHS - Channel News Asia

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

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