Heng Samrin

Heng Samrin (Khmer: ហេង សំរិន; born 25 May 1934) is a Cambodian politician who serves as the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia. Between 1979 and 1992, he was the de facto leader of the Hanoi-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979–1989) and State of Cambodia (1989–1992) and General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party from 1981 to 1991. He has been a member of Parliament since 1993. At age 86 years, he is Cambodia's oldest parliamentarian. His honorary title is "Samdech Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin" (Khmer: សម្តេចអគ្គមហាពញាចក្រី ហេង សំរិន).

Samdech Akka Moha
Ponhea Chakrei

Heng Samrin

MP
ហេង សំរិន
President of the National Assembly
Assumed office
21 March 2006
MonarchNorodom Sihamoni
Vice PresidentNguon Nhel
Say Chhum
Khuon Sodary
Kem Sokha
You Hockry
Preceded byNorodom Ranariddh
General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party
In office
5 December 1981 – 17 October 1991
Preceded byPen Sovan
Succeeded byChea Sim (President)
Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Council
(Council of State from 1981)
In office
10 January 1979 – 6 April 1992
Prime MinisterPen Sovan
Chan Sy
Hun Sen
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byChea Sim
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
14 June 1993
ConstituencyKandal (1993–1998)
Kampong Cham (1998–2018)
Tbong Khmum (2018–)
Personal details
Born (1934-05-25) 25 May 1934
Ponhea Kraek, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
(now in Tboung Khmum)
Political partyCambodian People's Party
Spouse(s)Sao Ty
Children4
Military service
Allegiance Cambodia
Branch/service Royal Cambodian Army
RankFive-Star General[1][2]

Life and career

Heng Samrin was born in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia, in 1934. He joined the Khmer Rouge communist movement led by Pol Pot, and became a political commissar and army division commander when the Khmer Rouge, backed by China, took over the government in 1975. In 1978, after a series of violent purges within the Khmer Rouge leadership in which many prominent cadre members whom Pol Pot felt might be rivals were executed, he fled to Vietnam.[3] In Vietnam he was one of the founding members of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (FUNSK). Later that year, Heng returned to Cambodia and organized a resistance movement with the backing and support of Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

After a Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia overthrew the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Vietnamese occupation authorities established the People's Republic of Kampuchea, installing Heng and other pro-Vietnamese Communist politicians as leaders of the new government.[4] He became chairman of the People's Revolutionary Council of the PRK in 1979. In 1981 he became chairman of the Council of State and secretary-general of the People's Revolutionary Party. Though at first he was the effective leader of the government, he lost much of his political power when Hun Sen became Prime Minister of Cambodia in 1985.

As Vietnamese influence declined, Samrin gradually lost his posts, including the post of secretary-general in 1991 and chairman of the council of state in 1992. When King Norodom Sihanouk was restored in 1993, Samrin was given the honorary title of Sâmdech, senior advisor of the King, and was made honorary chairman of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party. He was vice chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia (1998–2006). Since 2006, he has acted as Chairman of the Solidarity Front for Development of the Cambodian Motherland.

The Cambodian People's Party recently released a book about Samrin called A Man of the People,[5] dedicated to him as a hero.[6] According to that book, among supporters of the ruling CPP Heng Samrin is a "much loved and respected figure", even though his recent duties are often largely ceremonial.[7] His full title is Samdach Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Protean Radhsaphea ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea (Khmer: សម្តេចអគ្គមហាពញាចក្រី ហេង សំរិន ប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា នៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា).

gollark: Oh, you do computer science? I picked that as my A-level option for next year, not very sure if it's actually a good/sensible, er, course, though.
gollark: I would probably just go for "make a library and stick that in every program", but this works to.
gollark: I see. It sounds like an interesting project.
gollark: Also, like I said, it doesn't make sense to go separately into a mine for diamonds then iron.
gollark: You probably also do want to consider how much it would cost to do a thing. Fuel costs or pickaxe damage or whatever.

See also

References
  1. https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royal-letter-sihanouk-praises-five-star-leaders
  2. "Welcome to Cambodian People's Party- CPP News and Information Wolrd Wide: His Majesty Promotes Cambodian Leaders to Five-Star General". 27 December 2009.
  3. Jackson, Karl D. (2014). Cambodia, 1975-1978: Rendezvous with Death. Princeton University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9781400851706. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  4. Heller, H (2007). "Cambodia: Modern History". In Marshall Cavendish (ed.). World and Its peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. 6. p. 765.
  5. Heng Samrin, A Man of the People.
  6. Hunt, Luke. "Heng Samrin, Man of the People". Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  7. Hunt, Luke. "Heng Samrin, Man of the People". The Diplomate. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
Political offices
Preceded by
Khieu Samphan
President of the State Presidium		 Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea
1979–1981		 Succeeded by
Himself
Chairman of the State Council
Preceded by
Himself
Chairman of the Revolutionary Council		 Chairman of the State Council of Cambodia
1981–1992		 Succeeded by
Chea Sim
Preceded by
Norodom Ranariddh		 President of the National Assembly of Cambodia
2006–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Pen Sovan		 General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party
1981–1991		 Succeeded by
Chea Sim
President of the People's Party
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