Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia
Encyclopedia
The Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia (PGNUNSC) was an Internationally unrecognized and ostensibly provisional government
set up by the Khmer Rouge
on July 11, 1994 in opposition to the established Kingdom of Cambodia
. Its Prime Minister was Khieu Samphan
(who was also head of the armed forces
) and its Deputy Prime Minister (in charge also of foreign affairs) was Son Sen
. It was staffed by members of the Cambodian National Unity Party
. Areas it controlled included Pailin
(the capital of the provisional government) and Preah Vihear (where it was based.) The Khmer Rouge radio station was also known as the "Radio of the Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia." Other ministers included Chan Youran, Mak Ben, In Sopheap, Kor Bun Heng, Pich Cheang and Chuon Choeun.
In August 1996 senior Khmer Rouge official Ieng Sary
defected from the KR with two armed divisions and the formation of his own party, the Democratic National Union Movement
, which in turn encouraged more defections from the KR as Pol Pot
ordered the assassinations of Son Sen
(which was successful) and Ta Mok
(which was not.) In mid-June 1997 Khieu Samphan (who had by now founded the Khmer National Solidarity Party
) denounced Pol Pot and began discussing demobilization and a return to civilian life.
With Pol Pot's death in April 1998 and widespread sentiment within the Khmer Rouge for an end to an almost 20-year conflict, Khieu Samphan and Ta Mok dissolved the provisional government on June 22, 1998.
Provisional government
A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...
set up by 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...
on July 11, 1994 in opposition to the established Kingdom 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...
. Its Prime Minister was Khieu Samphan
Khieu Samphan
Khieu Samphan was the president of the state presidium of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976 until 1979. As such, he served as Cambodia's head of state and was one of the most powerful officials in the Khmer Rouge movement, though Pol Pot was the group's true political leader and held the most...
(who was also head of the armed forces
National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
The National Army of Democratic Kampuchea was a Cambodian guerrilla force. NADK were the armed forces of the Party of Democratic Kampuchea , operating between 1979 and the late 1990s.-History:...
) and its Deputy Prime Minister (in charge also of foreign affairs) was Son Sen
Son Sen
Son Sen was a Cambodian Communist politician and soldier. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea/Party of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge, from 1974 to 1992, Sen oversaw the Party's security apparatus, including the Santebal secret police and the notorious...
. It was staffed by members of the Cambodian National Unity Party
Cambodian National Unity Party
The Cambodian National Unity Party was a political party set up by the Khmer Rouge on November 30 1992 during the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia to participate in the elections that year. The party was led by Khieu Samphan and Son Sen. It succeeded the Party of Democratic...
. Areas it controlled included 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...
(the capital of the provisional government) and Preah Vihear (where it was based.) The Khmer Rouge radio station was also known as the "Radio of the Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia." Other ministers included Chan Youran, Mak Ben, In Sopheap, Kor Bun Heng, Pich Cheang and Chuon Choeun.
In August 1996 senior Khmer Rouge official 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....
defected from the KR with two armed divisions and the formation of his own party, the Democratic National Union Movement
Democratic National Union Movement
The Democratic National Union Movement is a Cambodian political party founded after senior Khmer Rouge official Ieng Sary's defection from the Cambodian National Unity Party in August 1996. A magazine entitled Phka Rik is associated with it...
, which in turn encouraged more defections from the KR as Pol Pot
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....
ordered the assassinations of Son Sen
Son Sen
Son Sen was a Cambodian Communist politician and soldier. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea/Party of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge, from 1974 to 1992, Sen oversaw the Party's security apparatus, including the Santebal secret police and the notorious...
(which was successful) and Ta Mok
Ta Mok
Ta Mok , which means "Grandfather Mok" in Khmer, was the nom de guerre of Chhit Choeun , a senior figure in the leadership of the Khmer Rouge...
(which was not.) In mid-June 1997 Khieu Samphan (who had by now founded the Khmer National Solidarity Party
Khmer National Solidarity Party
The Khmer National Solidarity Party was a Cambodian political party founded in May 1997 by senior Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan after his denunciation of Pol Pot and as he began distancing himself from the Khmer Rouge. Khieu Samphan was formerly the leader of the Cambodian National Unity Party...
) denounced Pol Pot and began discussing demobilization and a return to civilian life.
With Pol Pot's death in April 1998 and widespread sentiment within the Khmer Rouge for an end to an almost 20-year conflict, Khieu Samphan and Ta Mok dissolved the provisional government on June 22, 1998.