Hang Thun Hak
Encyclopedia
Hang Thun Hak was a Cambodia
n radical politician, academic and playwright.
Hak studied theatre in Paris
, where he became associated with the group of radical students centred on Keng Vannsak, which included several future leaders of the Cambodian Communists. He returned to Cambodia in 1951, and spent some time with Son Ngoc Thanh
's anti-colonial resistance fighters, operating from the forests in the area of Siem Reap
: Hak returned to public life in 1953, shortly prior to Cambodian independence.
Under the Sangkum
regime of Prince Norodom Sihanouk
, Hang Thun Hak taught at the National Theatre School, where his work was central to the development of modern Cambodian theatre. He served as Director of the Royal University of Fine Arts after its founding in 1965. Many of his plays, such as Thma Raom and Kanya Chareya (both dating from the late 1950s) attacked government corruption, and contained a strong element of political satire; Hak's close links with the Queen Mother, Sisowath Kosamak, helped to protect performances of these works.
The Cambodian coup of 1970
, carried out by General Lon Nol
, led to the end of Sihanouk's power and the establishment of the Khmer Republic
. Hak was initially mooted as a leader of the Pracheachon
party, a socialist party with which he had previously been involved, but eventually joined the Social Republican Party
led by Lon Non, and served as Prime Minister between 17 October 1972 and 17 April 1973.
By this time, however, the Republic had become embroiled in a bitter war
against the GRUNK
, a coalition between Sihanouk and his former Communist opponents, the Khmer Rouge
. Despite the American policy, in force at the time, of ignoring Sihanouk in negotiations, Hak made attempts to contact him in the possibility of reaching a settlement; he also had some contact with the Khmer Rouge themselves through one of their leaders, Hou Yuon
. He also ensured that Queen Kossamak, Sihanouk's mother, remained protected, accompanying her to Beijing
in 1973. Hak was forced to resign later in 1973.
After Lon Nol fled the capital on April 1, 1975, Hak was elected as a member of the Governing Council which sought to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Communists.
Hak disappeared after the Khmer Rouge
entered Phnom Penh
on April 17. A large number of former government officials are thought to have been executed at the Cercle Sportif shortly after the takeover.
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n radical politician, academic and playwright.
Hak studied theatre in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he became associated with the group of radical students centred on Keng Vannsak, which included several future leaders of the Cambodian Communists. He returned to Cambodia in 1951, and spent some time with 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:...
's anti-colonial resistance fighters, operating from the forests in the area of 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...
: Hak returned to public life in 1953, shortly prior to Cambodian independence.
Under the Sangkum
Sangkum
The Sangkum Reastr Niyum , commonly known simply as the Sangkum, was a political organisation set up in 1955 by Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia...
regime of Prince Norodom Sihanouk
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...
, Hang Thun Hak taught at the National Theatre School, where his work was central to the development of modern Cambodian theatre. He served as Director of the Royal University of Fine Arts after its founding in 1965. Many of his plays, such as Thma Raom and Kanya Chareya (both dating from the late 1950s) attacked government corruption, and contained a strong element of political satire; Hak's close links with the Queen Mother, Sisowath Kosamak, helped to protect performances of these works.
The Cambodian coup of 1970
Cambodian coup of 1970
The Cambodian coup of 1970 refers to the removal of the Cambodian Head of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, after a vote in the National Assembly on 18 March 1970. Emergency powers were subsequently invoked by the Prime Minister Lon Nol, who became effective head of state...
, carried out by General 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...
, led to the end of Sihanouk's power and the establishment of the Khmer Republic
Khmer Republic
The Khmer Republic or République Khmère, was the republican government of Cambodia that was formally declared on October 9, 1970. The Khmer Republic was disestablished in 1975 and was followed by the totalitarian communist state known as Democratic Kampuchea.-Background:Formally declared on October...
. Hak was initially mooted as a leader of the Pracheachon
Pracheachon
The Krom Pracheachon , often referred to simply as Pracheachon, was a Cambodian political party that contested in parliamentary elections in 1955, 1958 and 1972....
party, a socialist party with which he had previously been involved, but eventually joined the Social Republican Party
Social Republican Party
The Social Republican Party or Socio-Republican Party was a political party in Cambodia, founded by the then Head of State Lon Nol in June 1972 to contest the National Assembly Elections of the Khmer Republic held on September 3, 1972.-History:...
led by Lon Non, and served as Prime Minister between 17 October 1972 and 17 April 1973.
By this time, however, the Republic had become embroiled in a bitter war
Cambodian Civil War
The Cambodian Civil War was a conflict that pitted the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and their allies the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Viet Cong against the government forces of Cambodia , which were supported by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam The Cambodian...
against the GRUNK
GRUNK
The Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea, usually known by the French acronym GRUNK, was a government-in-exile of Cambodia, based in Beijing, that was in existence between 1970 and 1976...
, a coalition between Sihanouk and his former Communist opponents, the 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...
. Despite the American policy, in force at the time, of ignoring Sihanouk in negotiations, Hak made attempts to contact him in the possibility of reaching a settlement; he also had some contact with the Khmer Rouge themselves through one of their leaders, Hou Yuon
Hou Yuon
Hou Yuon was a veteran of the communist movement in Cambodia, and was of Sino-Khmer descent. A member of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, also known as the Khmer Rouge, he served in several ministerial posts during the 1960s and 1970s.Yuon, who repeatedly clashed with other members of the Khmer...
. He also ensured that Queen Kossamak, Sihanouk's mother, remained protected, accompanying her to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1973. Hak was forced to resign later in 1973.
After Lon Nol fled the capital on April 1, 1975, Hak was elected as a member of the Governing Council which sought to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Communists.
Hak disappeared after the 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...
entered 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,...
on April 17. A large number of former government officials are thought to have been executed at the Cercle Sportif shortly after the takeover.