Khieu Ponnary
Encyclopedia
Khieu Ponnary was the first wife of Pol Pot
, sister of Khieu Thirith and sister-in-law to Ieng Sary
.
Khieu Ponnary was born in 1920 in Battambang Province
, and her sister, Khieu Thirith, was born about 12 years later. Their father, a Cambodian judge, abandoned the family during World War II
, running off to Battambang
with a Cambodian princess. As a member of a privileged family, she was educated at the Lycee Sisowath
. Her younger sister, Khieu Thirith, and their future husbands, Ieng Sary and Saloth Sar (later Pol Pot) also attended. Graduating from the Lycee in 1940, she became the first Cambodian woman to receive a baccalaureate degree.
In 1949, she left Cambodia with her younger sister (who was engaged to Ieng Sary) for Paris where she studied Khmer linguistics. In Paris, her sister married Ieng Sary in 1951 and took his name, becoming Ieng Thirith
. Returning to Cambodia she married Saloth Sar (later Pol Pot) on Bastille Day
, 1956. Together the two sisters and their husbands later became known as 'Cambodia's Gang of Four
', a reference to the radical group led by Jiang Qing
the widow of Mao Tse-tung. Ponnary returned to Lycee Sisowath but now as a teacher, while her husband taught at Chamraon Vichea, a new private college.
Information about her role in party activities during the 1960s is fragmentary; however, she was the Party Secretary for Kampong Thom Province in 1973 and the President of the Democratic Kampuchea Women’s Association in 1976.
By at least 1975, Ponnary was growing increasingly disturbed from the onslaught of chronic schizophrenia
. She became extremely paranoid and was convinced that the Vietnamese were trying to assassinate her and her husband. Pol Pot divorced her in 1979 after the Vietnamese invasion and took a second wife.
In 1996, Ponnary, together with her sister and brother-in-law, were granted amnesty from prosecution by the Cambodian government. Ponnary was cared for by her sister and her sister’s husband Ieng Sary.
She died in Pailin
on July 1, 2003.
Pol Pot
Saloth Sar , better known as Pol Pot, , was a Cambodian Maoist revolutionary who led the Khmer Rouge from 1963 until his death in 1998. From 1976 to 1979, he served as the Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea....
, sister of Khieu Thirith and sister-in-law to Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary was a powerful figure in the Khmer Rouge. He was the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979 and held several senior positions in the Khmer Rouge until his defection to the government in 1996....
.
Khieu Ponnary was born in 1920 in Battambang Province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
, and her sister, Khieu Thirith, was born about 12 years later. Their father, a Cambodian judge, abandoned the family during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, running off to Battambang
Battambang
Battambang is the capital city of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.Battambang is the second-largest city in Cambodia with a population of over 250,000. Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is well known for being the leading rice-producing province of the country...
with a Cambodian princess. As a member of a privileged family, she was educated at the Lycee Sisowath
Lycee Sisowath
Lycée Preah Sisowath is a secondary school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The school was founded in 1873 as a collège and became a lycée in 1933.-History:...
. Her younger sister, Khieu Thirith, and their future husbands, Ieng Sary and Saloth Sar (later Pol Pot) also attended. Graduating from the Lycee in 1940, she became the first Cambodian woman to receive a baccalaureate degree.
In 1949, she left Cambodia with her younger sister (who was engaged to Ieng Sary) for Paris where she studied Khmer linguistics. In Paris, her sister married Ieng Sary in 1951 and took his name, becoming Ieng Thirith
Ieng Thirith
Ieng Thirith was an influential figure in the Khmer Rouge, but was neither a member of the Khmer Rouge Standing Committee nor of the Central Committee. Her original name is Khieu Thirith...
. Returning to Cambodia she married Saloth Sar (later Pol Pot) on Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
, 1956. Together the two sisters and their husbands later became known as 'Cambodia's Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
', a reference to the radical group led by Jiang Qing
Jiang Qing
Jiang Qing was the pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong's last wife and major Communist Party of China power figure. She went by the stage name Lan Ping during her acting career, and was known by various other names during her life...
the widow of Mao Tse-tung. Ponnary returned to Lycee Sisowath but now as a teacher, while her husband taught at Chamraon Vichea, a new private college.
Information about her role in party activities during the 1960s is fragmentary; however, she was the Party Secretary for Kampong Thom Province in 1973 and the President of the Democratic Kampuchea Women’s Association in 1976.
By at least 1975, Ponnary was growing increasingly disturbed from the onslaught of chronic schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
. She became extremely paranoid and was convinced that the Vietnamese were trying to assassinate her and her husband. Pol Pot divorced her in 1979 after the Vietnamese invasion and took a second wife.
In 1996, Ponnary, together with her sister and brother-in-law, were granted amnesty from prosecution by the Cambodian government. Ponnary was cared for by her sister and her sister’s husband Ieng Sary.
She died in Pailin
Pailin
Pailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
on July 1, 2003.