Sisowath Monireth ( km, ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុន្នីរ៉េត; 25 November 1909 – September 1975) was a Cambodian politician who served as the
Prime Minister of Cambodia
The prime minister of Cambodia ( km, នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីនៃកម្ពុជា, ) is the head of government of Cambodia. The prime minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet and leads the executive branch of the ...
, during the
French protectorate period, from 17 October 1945 to 15 December 1946. One of the most prominent members of the
Sisowath line of the royal family at the time, he had earlier been passed over for the throne by the French authorities in favor of his nephew
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; km, នរោត្តម សីហនុ, ; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a Cambodian statesman, Sangkum and FUNCINPEC politician, Norodom Sihanouk filmography, film director, and composer who led Cambodia in vari ...
, whom they considered to be more pliable. The prince, however, remained heir to the throne under Sihanouk's reign.
From 1939 to 1945, he fought for France in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
[
]
Early life
The original Cambodian Scout
Scout may refer to:
Youth movement
*Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement
**Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom
**Scouts BSA, sectio ...
movement ''Ankar Khamarak Kayarith'' was created in 1934, under the direction of Prince Sisowath Monireth and other leaders, including Tem Im Tem or TEM may refer to:
Acronyms
* Threat and error management, an aviation safety management model.
* Telecom Expense Management
* Telecom Equipment Manufacturer
* TEM (currency), local to Volos, Greece
* TEM (nuclear propulsion), a Russian ...
and Pok Thiem
POK, PoK, or Pok may refer to:
* Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the name used by India for the portion of Kashmir under Pakistani administration
* Pantoate kinase or PoK, an enzyme
* P.O.K. (''Podosfairikes Omades Kentrou''), a former coalition of foo ...
. This first era of Cambodian Scouting spread over several provinces and numbered more than 1,000 members.
Period in office
One of his first acts as Prime Minister was to create the first modern Cambodian army
The Royal Cambodian Army ( km, កងទ័ពជើងគោក, ) is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered 85,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery supp ...
. Having won the consent of the French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
, who had just returned to power in Cambodia after the defeat of the Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese in World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Monireth succeeded in forming out of former colonial NCOs
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
the basis for an indigenous army whose mission, according to the Franco-Khmer Military Convention of 20 November 1946, was to uphold the sovereignty of the king, to preserve internal security, and to defend the frontiers of the country.[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+kh0160) ]
In later years, Monireth temporarily acted as head of state from 6 April to 13 June 1960 in his capacity as Chairman of the Regency Council.
See also
References
1909 births
1975 deaths
20th-century Cambodian politicians
Cambodian princes
Scouting pioneers
Sangkum politicians
Scouting and Guiding in Cambodia
Executed Cambodian people
People executed by the Khmer Rouge
People who died in the Cambodian genocide
Prime Ministers of Cambodia
French military personnel of World War II
House of Sisowath
Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion
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