National United Front of Kampuchea
Encyclopedia
The Front uni national du Kampuchéa, also called Front uni national khmer (the Khmer United National Front), often abbreviated as FUNK, was an organisation formed by the deposed King of Cambodia
, Norodom Sihanouk
in 1970 while he was in exile in Beijing
.
of forces that opposed Lon Nol
's seizure of power; however, the Khmer Rouge
guerrillas formed the basic military force of the Front. The so-called Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party) were communists of nationalist-maoist orientation, formally publicly their organisation Angka Padevat ('Revolutionary Organization'). Apart from the KR, there were two distinct factions that participated in the insurgency: the pro-Sihanouk royalists (Khmer Rumdo
), who never held real power in the front, and secondly, the pro-Vietnamese cadres of 'Khmer Viet Minh'
.
The territories controlled by the guerrillas were nominally led by a Royal United National Government of Kampuchea (GRUNK
). The government was based in Beijing
. Sihanouk remained the head of state in that government, Penn Nouth
was the prime minister and Khieu Samphan
the deputy prime minister, minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the GRUNK forces. The possibility to exploit peasant masses' traditional adherence to Cambodia's monarchs greatly helped the Khmer Rouge to recruit members to the front. Both China, the USSR and Vietnam backed the 'Royal Government', whereas Vietnamese retained a more pro-Sihanouk stance as the Khmer Rouge began to consolidate their positions in 1971. The deposed king remained a figurehead of the front and nominal head of state until Khmer Rouge victory over Lon Nol in 1975.
King of Cambodia
The King of Cambodia is the head of state of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The King's power is limited to that of a symbolic figurehead to whom people are to give love and respect...
, Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
in 1970 while he was in exile in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
History
The front was supposed to be an umbrella organizationUmbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
of forces that opposed Lon Nol
Lon Nol
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice, as well as serving repeatedly as Defense Minister...
's seizure of power; however, 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...
guerrillas formed the basic military force of the Front. The so-called Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party) were communists of nationalist-maoist orientation, formally publicly their organisation Angka Padevat ('Revolutionary Organization'). Apart from the KR, there were two distinct factions that participated in the insurgency: the pro-Sihanouk royalists (Khmer Rumdo
Khmer Rumdo
The Khmer Rumdo , also spelt Khmer Rumdos or Khmer Rumdoh were one of several groups of guerrillas operating within the borders of Cambodia during the Cambodian Civil War of 1970–1975...
), who never held real power in the front, and secondly, the pro-Vietnamese cadres of 'Khmer Viet Minh'
Khmer Issarak
The Khmer Issarak was an anti-French, Khmer nationalist political movement formed in 1945 with the backing of the government of Thailand. It sought to expel the French colonial authorities from Cambodia, and establish an independent Khmer state....
.
The territories controlled by the guerrillas were nominally led by a Royal United National Government of Kampuchea (GRUNK
GRUNK
The Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea, usually known by the French acronym GRUNK, was a government-in-exile of Cambodia, based in Beijing, that was in existence between 1970 and 1976...
). The government was based in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Sihanouk remained the head of state in that government, Penn Nouth
Penn Nouth
Samdech Penn Nouth was a Cambodian politician. He served in the French colonial administration, then took active part in Cambodian politics, was several times a Prime Minister of Cambodia as part of the Sangkum regime of Prince Norodom Sihanouk...
was the prime minister and 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...
the deputy prime minister, minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the GRUNK forces. The possibility to exploit peasant masses' traditional adherence to Cambodia's monarchs greatly helped the Khmer Rouge to recruit members to the front. Both China, the USSR and Vietnam backed the 'Royal Government', whereas Vietnamese retained a more pro-Sihanouk stance as the Khmer Rouge began to consolidate their positions in 1971. The deposed king remained a figurehead of the front and nominal head of state until Khmer Rouge victory over Lon Nol in 1975.
See also
- Cambodian civil warCambodian Civil WarThe Cambodian Civil War was a conflict that pitted the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and their allies the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Viet Cong against the government forces of Cambodia , which were supported by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam The Cambodian...
- Viet MinhViet MinhViệt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
- Khmer RougeKhmer RougeThe 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...
- Coalition Government of Democratic KampucheaCoalition Government of Democratic KampucheaThe Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea was a coalition government in exile composed of three Cambodian political factions: Prince Norodom Sihanouk's Funcinpec party, the Party of Democratic Kampuchea and the Khmer People's National Liberation Front formed in 1982, broadening the de...