Cambodian National Unity Party
Encyclopedia
The Cambodian National Unity Party (CNUP) (Cambodian: Kanakpak Samakki Cheat Kampuchea) was a political party
set up by the Khmer Rouge
on November 30 1992 during the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
to participate in the elections that year. The party was led by Khieu Samphan
and Son Sen
. It succeeded the Party of Democratic Kampuchea
after 1993. As with the PDK, the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
was said to be its armed wing. Its professed aim at its founding was to "work towards implementing multi-party liberal democracy." Its radio station was known as the Voice of the Great National Union Front of Cambodia until being replaced in July 1994 by PGNUNSC
Radio.
Despite its stated wish to contest the 1993 elections, the Khmer Rouge soon ran into various disputes with United Nations authorities in Cambodia, culminating in their desire to boycott the elections. Subsequently, UNTAC decided not to conduct elections in areas under CNUP control. At the time it was estimated that approximately six percent of the population in Cambodia lived in areas under Khmer Rouge control. In July 1994 the PDK was declared illegal by the government, and the self-proclaimed "Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia
" was subsequently set up with involvement by CNUP members.
In August 1996 the party suffered a split when Ieng Sary
and his followers in North-Western Cambodia broke away and founded the Democratic National Union Movement
, and in May 1997 Khieu Samphan founded the Khmer National Solidarity Party
after defecting from the Khmer Rouge.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
set up by the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
on November 30 1992 during the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992–93. It was also the first occasion on which the UN had taken over the administration of an independent state, organized and run an election , had its own radio station and jail,...
to participate in the elections that year. The party was led by Khieu Samphan
Khieu Samphan
Khieu Samphan was the president of the state presidium of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976 until 1979. As such, he served as Cambodia's head of state and was one of the most powerful officials in the Khmer Rouge movement, though Pol Pot was the group's true political leader and held the most...
and Son Sen
Son Sen
Son Sen was a Cambodian Communist politician and soldier. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea/Party of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge, from 1974 to 1992, Sen oversaw the Party's security apparatus, including the Santebal secret police and the notorious...
. It succeeded the Party of Democratic Kampuchea
Party of Democratic Kampuchea
Party of Democratic Kampuchea was a political party in Cambodia, formed as a continuation of the Communist Party of Kampuchea in December 1981. In the mid-1980s it publicly claimed that its ideology was "democratic socialism," having ostensibly renounced Communism.-History:The dissolution of CPK...
after 1993. As with the PDK, the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
The National Army of Democratic Kampuchea was a Cambodian guerrilla force. NADK were the armed forces of the Party of Democratic Kampuchea , operating between 1979 and the late 1990s.-History:...
was said to be its armed wing. Its professed aim at its founding was to "work towards implementing multi-party liberal democracy." Its radio station was known as the Voice of the Great National Union Front of Cambodia until being replaced in July 1994 by PGNUNSC
Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia
The Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia was an Internationally unrecognized and ostensibly provisional government set up by the Khmer Rouge on July 11, 1994 in opposition to the established Kingdom of Cambodia...
Radio.
Despite its stated wish to contest the 1993 elections, the Khmer Rouge soon ran into various disputes with United Nations authorities in Cambodia, culminating in their desire to boycott the elections. Subsequently, UNTAC decided not to conduct elections in areas under CNUP control. At the time it was estimated that approximately six percent of the population in Cambodia lived in areas under Khmer Rouge control. In July 1994 the PDK was declared illegal by the government, and the self-proclaimed "Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia
Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia
The Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia was an Internationally unrecognized and ostensibly provisional government set up by the Khmer Rouge on July 11, 1994 in opposition to the established Kingdom of Cambodia...
" was subsequently set up with involvement by CNUP members.
In August 1996 the party suffered a split when Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary was a powerful figure in the Khmer Rouge. He was the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979 and held several senior positions in the Khmer Rouge until his defection to the government in 1996....
and his followers in North-Western Cambodia broke away and founded the Democratic National Union Movement
Democratic National Union Movement
The Democratic National Union Movement is a Cambodian political party founded after senior Khmer Rouge official Ieng Sary's defection from the Cambodian National Unity Party in August 1996. A magazine entitled Phka Rik is associated with it...
, and in May 1997 Khieu Samphan founded the Khmer National Solidarity Party
Khmer National Solidarity Party
The Khmer National Solidarity Party was a Cambodian political party founded in May 1997 by senior Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan after his denunciation of Pol Pot and as he began distancing himself from the Khmer Rouge. Khieu Samphan was formerly the leader of the Cambodian National Unity Party...
after defecting from the Khmer Rouge.