Sisowath Monireth ( km, ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុន្នីរ៉េត; 25 November 1909 – September 1975) was a Cambodian politician who served as the
Prime Minister of Cambodia, during the
French protectorate period, from 17 October 1945 to 15 December 1946. One of the most prominent members of the
Sisowath
Sisowath ( km, ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ, ; 7 September 1840 – 9 August 1927) was King of Cambodia from 27 April 1904 to his death in 1927. He was the son of King Ang Duong and half brother of Prince Si Votha and King Norodom. He is the ...
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, 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 opposing ...
.
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Early life
The original Cambodian Scout movement ''Ankar Khamarak Kayarith'' was created in 1934, under the direction of Prince Sisowath Monireth and other leaders, including Tem Im and Pok Thiem. 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. Having won the consent of the French, who had just returned to power in Cambodia after the defeat of the Japanese 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 opposing ...
, 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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