Bangkok Plot
Encyclopedia
This international conspiracy to topple Prince Norodom Sihanouk
of Cambodia
was alleged to have been initiated by right-wing politicians Sam Sary
, Son Ngoc Thanh
, the regional Cambodian warlord
and governor Dap Chhuon
, and the governments of Thailand
and South Vietnam
with possible involvement of US intelligence services.
According to the account later to be given by Sihanouk, the coup was to be carried out by Thanh's Khmer Serai irregulars, largely from the Khmer Krom
minority of southern Vietnam. The Khmer Serai were massed in the southern border areas while Chhuon - who for the past few years had been a trusted associate of Sihanouk - was to start an uprising in the north-east. In early February 1959, Admiral Harry Felt, General Lawton Collins and Colonel Edward Lansdale
all visited Chhuon's base in Siem Reap
.
Sihanouk's intelligence services discovered details of the plot and on February 21, 1959 dispatched a battalion of troops to arrest Chhuon. Chhuon fled, but a US citizen and alleged CIA radio operator, Victor Matsui, was captured. Chhuon was later apprehended, interrogated, and died "of injuries" in somewhat murky circumstances before he could be properly interviewed. Sihanouk later alleged that his Minister of Defence, Lon Nol
, had Chhuon shot to prevent being implicated in the coup.
Sihanouk arranged that pictures of Chhuon's corpse be posted on a main Phnom Penh
thoroughfare. Of the other main plotters, Sary disappeared in 1962, while Thanh went on to have involvement in Lon Nol's post-1970 government before leaving for Vietnam. Chhuon's brother Slat Peou, a member of Sihanouk's delegation at the United Nations
and a friend of Matsui, was executed for treason.
Sihanouk, a keen amateur film director
, later used the plot as the basis for his film Shadow over Angkor. He regarded it as conclusive evidence that the US intended to destabilise his regime, which had established relations with communist China
.
The conspiracy is also known as the "Dap Chhuon Plot".
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
was alleged to have been initiated by right-wing politicians Sam Sary
Sam Sary
Sam Sary was a Cambodian politician who participated in the so-called Bangkok Plot against Prince Norodom Sihanouk. He was a son of Sam Nhean, a prominent politician in the 1940s and father of Sam Rainsy, presently a leader of the main Cambodia's opposition party...
, Son Ngoc Thanh
Son Ngoc Thanh
Son Ngoc Thanh was a Cambodian nationalist and republican policitian, with a long history as a rebel and a government minister.-Early life:...
, the regional Cambodian warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
and governor Dap Chhuon
Dap Chhuon
Dap Chhuon, also known as Khem Phet, Chhuon Mochulpich or Chhuon Mchoul Pech was a right-wing Cambodian nationalist, guerrilla leader, regional warlord, and general....
, and the governments of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
with possible involvement of US intelligence services.
According to the account later to be given by Sihanouk, the coup was to be carried out by Thanh's Khmer Serai irregulars, largely from the Khmer Krom
Khmer Krom
The Khmer Krom are Khmer people living in the Mekong Delta and the Lower Mekong River area. Under the Khmer Rouge regime- according to the conservative estimates are that 150,000. Under the rule of Vietnam from 1979-93, Cambodia may have lost 20,000 Khmer Krom...
minority of southern Vietnam. The Khmer Serai were massed in the southern border areas while Chhuon - who for the past few years had been a trusted associate of Sihanouk - was to start an uprising in the north-east. In early February 1959, Admiral Harry Felt, General Lawton Collins and Colonel Edward Lansdale
Edward Lansdale
Edward Geary Lansdale was a United States Air Force officer who served in the Office of Strategic Services and the Central Intelligence Agency. He rose to the rank of Major General and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1963. He was an early proponent of more aggressive US actions in...
all visited Chhuon's base in Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
.
Sihanouk's intelligence services discovered details of the plot and on February 21, 1959 dispatched a battalion of troops to arrest Chhuon. Chhuon fled, but a US citizen and alleged CIA radio operator, Victor Matsui, was captured. Chhuon was later apprehended, interrogated, and died "of injuries" in somewhat murky circumstances before he could be properly interviewed. Sihanouk later alleged that his Minister of Defence, Lon Nol
Lon Nol
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice, as well as serving repeatedly as Defense Minister...
, had Chhuon shot to prevent being implicated in the coup.
Sihanouk arranged that pictures of Chhuon's corpse be posted on a main Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
thoroughfare. Of the other main plotters, Sary disappeared in 1962, while Thanh went on to have involvement in Lon Nol's post-1970 government before leaving for Vietnam. Chhuon's brother Slat Peou, a member of Sihanouk's delegation at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and a friend of Matsui, was executed for treason.
Sihanouk, a keen amateur film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, later used the plot as the basis for his film Shadow over Angkor. He regarded it as conclusive evidence that the US intended to destabilise his regime, which had established relations with communist China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
The conspiracy is also known as the "Dap Chhuon Plot".