Cambodian Freedom Fighters
Encyclopedia
The Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) (Khmer: Cholana Kangtoap Serei Cheat Kampuchea) is an anti-communist
political and paramilitary organization that was established on October 21, 1989, by its founder, Chhun Yasith
, at Poipet near the Cambodian-Thai border. Their headquarters are in Long Beach, California
, United States
. It was incorporated and registered at the Californian Secretary of State
's office as a political organization in June 1999, and aims "to fight against communists to protect the interests of Cambodian people."
The CFF claim to have 500 members in the United States
and up to 20,000 supporters in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
. Armed with B-40 rockets and assault rifles, they moved swiftly toward the Defence Ministry building and a military barracks. They attacked the Ministry of Defense and the Council of Ministers, peppering them with fire, then turned their weapons on a local television station and a nearby military base. State security forces engaged the group in a fierce firefight that lasted more than an hour, leaving bullet holes in ministry offices and blood pooled in the street. By daybreak, eight people lay dead. In the wake of the violence, more than 200 people, including Richard Kiri Kim, were arrested by the Cambodian police.
On June 22, 2001, the Cambodian Criminal Court handed down their verdict on the Cambodian Freedom Fighters’ attack of November 24, 2000. An Mao, Nou Saron, and three Cambodian-Americans (Richard Kiri Kim, Thong Samien, and Chhun Yasith
) were sentenced to life in prison on charges of conspiring to commit terrorism. Chhun Yasith and Thong Samien were tried in absentia
.
Twenty-four other men and one woman were found guilty of various charges and given prison terms ranging from three to 20 years. Among them were two prominent former Khmer Rouge commanders, Seng Narin and Tumlap Mil, who each received 15 years in prison.
belonged to the ultra-left Khmer Rouge
and he has rigged the election process in Cambodia. They have chosen to remove Hun Sen's government militarily because they believe he and his regime are guilty of corruption
in the election process in collaboration with the Communist Vietnamese that placed Hun Sen in power in 1989.
The Cambodian Freedom Fighters violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, but, similar to its treatment of the Government of Free Vietnam
(a Vietnamese counterpart), the U.S. government has not taken a strong stance against them.
In 2008, Chhun Yasith
, founder of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, was tried and convicted in the U.S., in relation to masterminding the 2000 coup attempt.
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
political and paramilitary organization that was established on October 21, 1989, by its founder, Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith is a Cambodian American who led a failed coup d’état in Cambodia in 2000.-Biography:Yasith left Cambodia in the early 1980s, amid the disarray following the Vietnamese invasion that deposed the Khmer Rouge régime from power. He emigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a tax...
, at Poipet near the Cambodian-Thai border. Their headquarters are in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was incorporated and registered at the Californian Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of California is the chief elections officer of that U.S. state. The Secretary of State is also responsible for the California State Archives, as well as chartering corporations. The Secretary of State is elected to four year terms, concurrent with the other constitutional...
's office as a political organization in June 1999, and aims "to fight against communists to protect the interests of Cambodian people."
The CFF claim to have 500 members in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and up to 20,000 supporters in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
History
On November 24, 2000, a Cambodian Freedom Fighters team of about seventy (CFF) agents slipped into the center of the Cambodian capital, Phnom PenhPhnom 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,...
. Armed with B-40 rockets and assault rifles, they moved swiftly toward the Defence Ministry building and a military barracks. They attacked the Ministry of Defense and the Council of Ministers, peppering them with fire, then turned their weapons on a local television station and a nearby military base. State security forces engaged the group in a fierce firefight that lasted more than an hour, leaving bullet holes in ministry offices and blood pooled in the street. By daybreak, eight people lay dead. In the wake of the violence, more than 200 people, including Richard Kiri Kim, were arrested by the Cambodian police.
On June 22, 2001, the Cambodian Criminal Court handed down their verdict on the Cambodian Freedom Fighters’ attack of November 24, 2000. An Mao, Nou Saron, and three Cambodian-Americans (Richard Kiri Kim, Thong Samien, and Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith is a Cambodian American who led a failed coup d’état in Cambodia in 2000.-Biography:Yasith left Cambodia in the early 1980s, amid the disarray following the Vietnamese invasion that deposed the Khmer Rouge régime from power. He emigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a tax...
) were sentenced to life in prison on charges of conspiring to commit terrorism. Chhun Yasith and Thong Samien were tried in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
.
Twenty-four other men and one woman were found guilty of various charges and given prison terms ranging from three to 20 years. Among them were two prominent former Khmer Rouge commanders, Seng Narin and Tumlap Mil, who each received 15 years in prison.
Politics
The Cambodian Freedom Fighters have chosen not to participate in the election process in Cambodia because they state Prime Minister Hun SenHun Sen
Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...
belonged to the ultra-left Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
and he has rigged the election process in Cambodia. They have chosen to remove Hun Sen's government militarily because they believe he and his regime are guilty of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in the election process in collaboration with the Communist Vietnamese that placed Hun Sen in power in 1989.
The Cambodian Freedom Fighters violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, but, similar to its treatment of the Government of Free Vietnam
Government of Free Vietnam
Provisional Government of Free Vietnam is a paramilitary political organization headquartered in Garden Grove, California and Missouri City, Texas...
(a Vietnamese counterpart), the U.S. government has not taken a strong stance against them.
In 2008, Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith
Chhun Yasith is a Cambodian American who led a failed coup d’état in Cambodia in 2000.-Biography:Yasith left Cambodia in the early 1980s, amid the disarray following the Vietnamese invasion that deposed the Khmer Rouge régime from power. He emigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a tax...
, founder of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, was tried and convicted in the U.S., in relation to masterminding the 2000 coup attempt.
Finances
The Cambodian Freedom Fighters collect operating funds through active solicitation of donations from the Cambodian-American community in the United States and Cambodian refugees in Europe.External links
- List of incidents attributed to the Cambodian Freedom Fighters on the START database
- American held over Cambodia shootout BBC NEWS
- Attack on Cambodian ministryBBC NEWS
- Cambodian premier accuses expatriates of plot CNN
- U.S. group says it is behind shootout in Cambodia capital CNN
- The Coup That Wasn't CBS News
- Terrorist plot highlights Cambodia's difficulties Asia Times
- Reasons for Midnight Assault Still a Mystery Cambodian Daily
- Cambodian terrorism trial begins amid outcry CNN
- Fighters, Leader Mired in Mystery
- Cambodia sentences 'coup plotters' CNN
- Southeast Asia’s most wanted are living large in the LA area
- Cambodian Freedom Fighters News Article Asia Time Magazine
- Cambodia sets up task force to fight terrorism CNN