Saloth Chhay
Encyclopedia
Saloth Chhay was a Cambodia
n left-wing journalist and political activist, who was prominent in the country's politics during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for being the older brother of Pol Pot
(Saloth Sar), future leader of the Khmer Rouge
communists, and for influencing his early political development.
Chhay is thought to have been killed by the Khmer Rouge shortly after their victory in the Cambodian Civil War
, or to have died during deportation from Phnom Penh
.
, Kampong Thom province. In the mid-1930s he went to live in Phnom Penh
, staying with relatives who had connections at the court of Cambodia's king, Sisowath Monivong
.
Chhay's interest in Cambodian independence, and leftist political convictions, led to him joining the nationalist guerrilla group led by Son Ngoc Thanh
for a brief period in the early 1950s, and he also had contact with another prominent resistance (Khmer Issarak
) leader, Prince Norodom Chantaraingsey
, with whom he had shared contacts through the court.
Chhay initially encouraged his younger brother Saloth Sar, who had returned from Paris
in 1953, to work with Chantaraingsey, but Sar rejected the prince as "feudal". Saloth Sar was, however, able to use Chhay's connections within the communist anti-colonial movement in order to gain contacts; Chhay spent time with the Viet Minh
, who had a presence in the Cambodian border areas, taking his brother with him. His visit to the eastern headquarters of the United Issarak Front
, the Cambodian communist resistance, paved the way for his brother's visit there in 1953.
Cambodia achieved independence in 1953 under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk
. Chhay became an activist for the Pracheachon
socialist party, the legal 'front' organization for the Cambodian communists. Chhay was, however, arrested in 1955 after his newspaper, Sammaki ('Solidarity'), publicly opposed Sihanouk's Cambodian-US Military Agreement.
During the later 1950s and early 1960s, the Pracheachon was repressed by Sihanouk's Sangkum
movement. Chhay was again jailed in 1969, but was however to return to some prominence after the Cambodian coup of 1970
, in which Sihanouk was deposed as Head of State by his Prime Minister, Lon Nol
. During 1971 and 72 Chhay edited a semi-official newspaper, Prayojan Khmer, and was again associated with a resurrected Pracheachon party.
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 left-wing journalist and political activist, who was prominent in the country's politics during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for being the older brother of 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....
(Saloth Sar), future leader of 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...
communists, and for influencing his early political development.
Chhay is thought to have been killed by the Khmer Rouge shortly after their victory in the Cambodian Civil 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...
, or to have died during deportation from 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,...
.
Life
Chhay was born into a middle-peasant family in Prek SbauvPrek Sbauv
Prek Sbauv is a small fishing village alongside the Sen River in northeastern Cambodia. Except for being the birthplace of Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge, Prek Sbauv is like any other fisher villages of Cambodia. The village has no more than 10 houses, is located in Kampong Thom Province at 12°...
, Kampong Thom province. In the mid-1930s he went to live in 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,...
, staying with relatives who had connections at the court of Cambodia's king, Sisowath Monivong
Sisowath Monivong
Sisowath Monivong was the king of Cambodia from 1927 until his death in 1941.Sisowath Monivong was the second son of King Sisowath. He was born in Phnom Penh in 1875. During this time, his uncle, King Norodom was ruling from Odong, the capital at that time, as a puppet king for the French...
.
Chhay's interest in Cambodian independence, and leftist political convictions, led to him joining the nationalist guerrilla group led by 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:...
for a brief period in the early 1950s, and he also had contact with another prominent resistance (Khmer Issarak
Khmer Issarak
The Khmer Issarak was an anti-French, Khmer nationalist political movement formed in 1945 with the backing of the government of Thailand. It sought to expel the French colonial authorities from Cambodia, and establish an independent Khmer state....
) leader, Prince Norodom Chantaraingsey
Norodom Chantaraingsey
Prince Norodom Chantaraingsey was a member of the Cambodian royal family, and a Cambodian nationalist. Initially a leader of the guerrilla resistance against the colonial French, he went on to become a prominent general in the Khmer National Armed Forces during the Cambodian Civil War, as well as...
, with whom he had shared contacts through the court.
Chhay initially encouraged his younger brother Saloth Sar, who had returned from 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...
in 1953, to work with Chantaraingsey, but Sar rejected the prince as "feudal". Saloth Sar was, however, able to use Chhay's connections within the communist anti-colonial movement in order to gain contacts; Chhay spent time with the Viet Minh
Viet Minh
Việt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
, who had a presence in the Cambodian border areas, taking his brother with him. His visit to the eastern headquarters of the United Issarak Front
United Issarak Front
The United Issarak Front was a Cambodian anti-colonial movement 1950–1954., organized by the left-wing members of the Khmer Issarak movement. The UIF coordinated the efforts of the movement as of 1950, and waged war against the French Union forces...
, the Cambodian communist resistance, paved the way for his brother's visit there in 1953.
Cambodia achieved independence in 1953 under the leadership 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...
. Chhay became an activist for 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....
socialist party, the legal 'front' organization for the Cambodian communists. Chhay was, however, arrested in 1955 after his newspaper, Sammaki ('Solidarity'), publicly opposed Sihanouk's Cambodian-US Military Agreement.
During the later 1950s and early 1960s, the Pracheachon was repressed by Sihanouk's 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...
movement. Chhay was again jailed in 1969, but was however to return to some prominence after 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...
, in which Sihanouk was deposed as Head of State by his Prime Minister, 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...
. During 1971 and 72 Chhay edited a semi-official newspaper, Prayojan Khmer, and was again associated with a resurrected Pracheachon party.
Death
Chhay died shortly after the Khmer Rouge's entry into Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. The communist administration ordered the city's immediate evacuation, citing a risk of American bombing and lack of food stocks, and nearly the entire population was deported to the countryside. Chhay is thought to have died, like thousands of others, en route, or possibly to have been killed by Khmer Rouge troops.Sources
- Corfield, J. Khmers stand up!: a history of the Cambodian government 1970-1975, Monash University, 1994, ISBN 9780732605650
- Chandler, D. Brother number one: a political biography of Pol Pot, Westview, 1999, ISBN 9780813335100
- Kiernan, B. How Pol Pot came to power, Yale UP, 2004