Son Sann

Son Sann
Born	Template:Birth date Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Died	December 19, 2000(2000-12-19) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)	Statesman, Politician
Years active	1946–1997
Known for	22nd Prime Minister of Cambodia (1967–1968), President of the National Assembly (1993)

Son Sann (, ; 5 October 1911 – 19 December 2000) was a prominent Cambodian statesman and staunch opponent of communism who held the office of Cambodia’s 22nd Prime Minister between 1967 and 1968, and later served as President of the National Assembly in 1993. A committed Buddhist, he was married and fathered seven children. His full honorific title was "Samdech Borvor Setha Thipadei Son Sann" (; meaning Great Lord and Most Eminent Leader Son Sann).

Early life

Born in Phnom Penh in 1911, Son Sann descended from a Khmer Krom family of affluent landowners originally based in Trà Vinh, Vietnam. His father, Son Sach, had relocated to Cambodia prior to his birth to work as an official under Sisowath Souphanouvong, the brother of King Monivong. Son Sann completed his education in Phnom Penh before graduating from the distinguished École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC) in 1933. After spending some time in London to improve his English skills, he returned to Cambodia in 1935 and entered the Civil Service, managing trade affairs initially in Prey Veng and subsequently in Battambang. In 1941, he participated in a Cambodian economic delegation to Tokyo.

Political career

As an early advocate of the Khmer Democratic Party, Son Sann was actively involved on its steering committee. Between 1946 and 1947, he held the positions of vice-president of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Finance under Sisowath Youtévong. Following Youtévong’s passing, Son Sann continued as deputy premier until 1948 and became vice chairman of the Council of Ministers in 1949. He was appointed Foreign Minister from June 1950 until March 1951. After the Khmer Democratic Party’s decline in 1952, he stepped down from its leadership but later re-engaged politically through the Sangkum party, occupying several roles during the late 1950s and early 1960s before assuming the presidency of the National Bank of Cambodia from 1955 to 1968.

House arrest and exile in France

After the 1970 coup that ousted Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Son Sann was placed under house arrest and subsequently moved to France. In June 1970, he traveled to Beijing aiming to mediate between Sihanouk and coup leader Lon Nol. By late 1971, he had secured backing from various politicians and diplomats across Cambodia, France, and China. Nevertheless, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai dismissed this effort in 1972, while Lon Nol proclaimed himself President of the newly established Khmer Republic.

Return to Cambodia

In response to Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia, Son Sann established the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) in 1978 to consolidate anti-communist refugees along the Thai-Cambodian border. The KPNLF later formed an alliance with the Armeè Nationale Sihanouk to create a non-communist resistance front. In 1982, this coalition joined forces with Sihanouk and the Party of Democratic Kampuchea to form the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, where Son Sann was appointed Prime Minister.

United States support

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Son Sann received limited military and financial aid from the United States under the framework of the Reagan Doctrine, aimed at countering Soviet and Vietnamese influence within Cambodia. In 1987, Michael Johns from The Heritage Foundation visited Son Sann and KPNLF troops, endorsing increased U.S. support for both the KPNLF and Norodom Sihanouk’s resistance movement. The U.S. contribution included restricted military assistance along with humanitarian aid intended to encourage Vietnamese withdrawal and foster a non-communist alternative to both the Vietnamese-backed regime and the Khmer Rouge.

Following the signing of Cambodia’s Paris Peace Agreement, Son Sann launched the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party in 1992. The party secured ten seats in the elections held in 1993. He participated as a minority figure within the coalition government and held the position of President of the National Assembly from June until October 1993.

Son Sann moved back to Paris in 1997, where he remained until his passing due to heart failure on 19 December 2000 at age 89.

International Distinction

• : Awarded the title of Honorary Commander within the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1963)

Bibliography

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