Son Ngoc Minh
Encyclopedia
Son Ngoc Minh also known as Achar Mean, was a Cambodia
n communist politician whose first notable career achievement was in 1950 when he was appointed the head of provisional revolutionary government of the United Issarak Front
organized at Hongdan. Among his Vietnamese friends, he was known as Pham Van Hua.
father and a Vietnam
ese mother. He became a Buddhist lay preacher (Achar), and was recruited by Vietnamese communists to serve as President of a newly-formed Cambodian People's Liberation Committee (CPLC) in Battambang
. Minh had been born in a Khmer district of southern Vietnam of mixed Khmer-Vietnamese parentage, which meant he was the nearest the Vietnamese had to an authentic Khmer revolutionary. His nom de guerre was intended to capitalise on the popularity of Sihanouk's banished rival, Son Ngoc Thanh
, then still languishing in exile in France.
Son Ngoc Minh was the leader of the first nationwide congress of the leftist Khmer Issarak
groups, which founded the United Issarak Front
. In 1950, he formally declared Cambodia's independence after claiming that the UIF controlled one third of the country. Along with Tou Samouth
, Minh founded the Khmer People's Revolutionary Party
(KPRP) in August 1951.
Minh remained a senior figure in the Party, albeit largely operating from Hanoi
in North Vietnam
, until 1972, when at the request of Ieng Sary
he was sent to hospital in Beijing
to be treated for high blood pressure. Minh died in Beijing on 22 December. His death further lessened the influence of the Hanoi-trained communists on the Party, correspondingly increasing the power of the hardline Party 'Centre' led by Pol Pot
.
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 communist politician whose first notable career achievement was in 1950 when he was appointed the head of provisional revolutionary government 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...
organized at Hongdan. Among his Vietnamese friends, he was known as Pham Van Hua.
Biography
Son Ngoc Minh was born in 1920 to a KhmerCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
father and a Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese mother. He became a Buddhist lay preacher (Achar), and was recruited by Vietnamese communists to serve as President of a newly-formed Cambodian People's Liberation Committee (CPLC) in 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...
. Minh had been born in a Khmer district of southern Vietnam of mixed Khmer-Vietnamese parentage, which meant he was the nearest the Vietnamese had to an authentic Khmer revolutionary. His nom de guerre was intended to capitalise on the popularity of Sihanouk's banished rival, 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:...
, then still languishing in exile in France.
Son Ngoc Minh was the leader of the first nationwide congress of the leftist 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....
groups, which founded 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...
. In 1950, he formally declared Cambodia's independence after claiming that the UIF controlled one third of the country. Along with Tou Samouth
Tou Samouth
Tou Samouth , also known as Achar Sok, was a Cambodian Communist politician. One of the founder members of the Party in Cambodia, and head of its more moderate faction, he is mainly remembered for mentoring Saloth Sar, the man who later became Pol Pot.-Career in the Khmer resistance:Samouth, one of...
, Minh founded the Khmer People's Revolutionary Party
Communist Party of Kampuchea
The Communist Party of Kampuchea, also known as Khmer Communist Party , was a communist party in Cambodia. Its followers were generally known as Khmer Rouge .-Foundation of the party; first divisions:...
(KPRP) in August 1951.
Minh remained a senior figure in the Party, albeit largely operating from Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
in North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
, until 1972, when at the request of 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....
he was sent to hospital in 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...
to be treated for high blood pressure. Minh died in Beijing on 22 December. His death further lessened the influence of the Hanoi-trained communists on the Party, correspondingly increasing the power of the hardline Party 'Centre' led by 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....
.