Peter Khoy Saukam (born Saukam Khoy km, សូកាំ ខូយ; 2 February 1915 – 14 November 2008) was a Cambodian politician who served as Acting President of the Khmer Republic for 12 days in April 1975. He was President of the Senate from 1972 to 1975.

Early life

Born on 2 February 1915, Saukam Khoy enlisted into the Khmer Royal Army in 1940, when he was 25. He achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1953 and subsequently, lieutenant-general. He became President of the Senate of the Khmer Republic in 1972.

Presidency

He took office on 1 April 1975, when a tearful

Lon Nol Marshal Lon Nol ( km, លន់ នល់, also ; 13 November 1913 – 17 November 1985) was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice (1966–67; 1969–71), as well as serving repeatedly as defence min ...

left 'temporarily' with his entire family for Bali in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

after an invitation from his friend,

Indonesian President The President of the Republic of Indonesia ( id, Presiden Republik Indonesia) is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Indonesia. The president leads the executive branch of the Indonesian government and is ...

Suharto. Khoy's time in office was short. He left Phnom Penh together with American Ambassador

John Gunther Dean John Gunther Dean (February 24, 1926 – June 6, 2019) was an American diplomat. From 1974–1988, he served as the United States ambassador to five nations under four American presidents. Early years Dean was born as Gunther Dienstfertig in B ...

aboard a CH-53 helicopter during the evacuation of American embassy staff and civilians, dubbed

Operation Eagle Pull Operation Eagle Pull was the United States military evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975. At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, one of the last remaining strongholds of the Khmer Republic, was surrounded by the Khmer ...

on 12 April, just five days before Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge. Khoy died at the age of 93 in Stockton, California,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, on 14 November 2008.

References

1915 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Cambodian politicians Cambodian emigrants to the United States Cambodian republicans Politicians from Stockton, California Social Republican Party politicians Heads of state of Cambodia Presidents of the Senate (Cambodia) Khmer Republic {{Cambodia-politician-stub