Um Savuth
Encyclopedia
Um Savuth was a Cambodia
n army officer who came to his greatest prominence during the Cambodian Civil War
, where he was responsible for commanding the Khmer National Armed Forces
during their disastrous 1971 offensive, Operation Chenla I
. The son of a government chauffeur
, and the younger brother of politician Um Samuth, Savuth began his career in the Royal Cambodian Army under the regime of Prince Norodom Sihanouk
, and became a supporter of General Lon Nol
after the latter's 1970 coup against Sihanouk
.
Savuth was largely paralyzed down one side of his body, walked with the aid of a cane, and was, reputedly, continually drunk to numb the pain of his condition. This had come about due to an incident earlier in his career in which he had drunkenly insisted that a subordinate shoot a live cat
off his head, stating that it was a direct order when the soldier resisted. The shot missed, and part of Savuth's head was blown away: nevertheless, he continued his military career.
Under Sihanouk's regime, Savuth (along with a fellow officer, Les Kosem
) was closely involved in the formation of FULRO, a guerrilla resistance movement seeking autonomy for the Degar
tribes of Vietnam
. When Kosem disagreed with the direction being taken by FULRO's leader, Y-Bham Enuol, he forcibly detained him and placed him under house arrest at Savuth's residence in Phnom Penh
. Like Kosem, Savuth was also known to be deeply implicated in Sihanouk's secret arrangement with North Vietnam
by which weapons were smuggled through Cambodia (along the "Sihanouk Trail
") to the Viet Cong.
Subsequent to the Khmer Republic
's declaration, Savuth rose to the rank of Brigadier-General. Despite assurances, from the Republic's US backers, that Savuth was "better drunk than most Cambodian officers sober", his most prominent campaign (Operation Chenla I) was a military disaster.
In 1971, Savuth wrote to US President Richard Nixon
, offering him his pet elephant
"Khaat" ("Little Frog") as a gift. Nixon did not respond to the offer, though Savuth's wife told Peter R. Kann
of the Wall Street Journal that she was rather pleased with this as "giving away an elephant is bad luck".
Savuth was killed in a car accident in November 1972. A newsreel of his subsequent cremation
(in accordance with traditional Buddhist practices) is still held by the Documentation Center of Cambodia
.
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n army officer who came to his greatest prominence during the Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian Civil War
The 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...
, where he was responsible for commanding the Khmer National Armed Forces
Khmer National Armed Forces
The Khmer National Armed Forces , often abbreviated to FANK, were the official armed defense forces of the Khmer Republic, a short-lived state that existed from 1970 to 1975, known today as Cambodia...
during their disastrous 1971 offensive, Operation Chenla I
Operation Chenla I
Operation Chenla I was an operation of the Vietnam War. The Cambodian armed forces launched the operation during late August 1970 with limited air support from the South Vietnamese army and air force...
. The son of a government chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
, and the younger brother of politician Um Samuth, Savuth began his career in the Royal Cambodian Army under the regime of Prince 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...
, and became a supporter of General 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...
after the latter's 1970 coup against Sihanouk
Cambodian coup of 1970
The Cambodian coup of 1970 refers to the removal of the Cambodian Head of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, after a vote in the National Assembly on 18 March 1970. Emergency powers were subsequently invoked by the Prime Minister Lon Nol, who became effective head of state...
.
Savuth was largely paralyzed down one side of his body, walked with the aid of a cane, and was, reputedly, continually drunk to numb the pain of his condition. This had come about due to an incident earlier in his career in which he had drunkenly insisted that a subordinate shoot a live cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
off his head, stating that it was a direct order when the soldier resisted. The shot missed, and part of Savuth's head was blown away: nevertheless, he continued his military career.
Under Sihanouk's regime, Savuth (along with a fellow officer, Les Kosem
Les Kosem
Les Kosem, also known by the nom de guerre "Po Nagar", was a Cambodian Cham military officer and a prominent figure in the Second Indochina War and the Cambodian Civil War....
) was closely involved in the formation of FULRO, a guerrilla resistance movement seeking autonomy for the Degar
Degar
The Degar are the indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The term Montagnard means "mountain people" in French and is a carryover from the French colonial period in Vietnam. In Vietnamese, they are known by the term thượng - this term can also be applied to other minority ethnic...
tribes of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. When Kosem disagreed with the direction being taken by FULRO's leader, Y-Bham Enuol, he forcibly detained him and placed him under house arrest at Savuth's residence in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. Like Kosem, Savuth was also known to be deeply implicated in Sihanouk's secret arrangement with North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
by which weapons were smuggled through Cambodia (along the "Sihanouk Trail
Sihanouk Trail
The Sihanouk Trail was a logistical supply system in Cambodia used by the People's Army of Vietnam and its National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam allies during the Vietnam War...
") to the Viet Cong.
Subsequent to the Khmer Republic
Khmer Republic
The Khmer Republic or République Khmère, was the republican government of Cambodia that was formally declared on October 9, 1970. The Khmer Republic was disestablished in 1975 and was followed by the totalitarian communist state known as Democratic Kampuchea.-Background:Formally declared on October...
's declaration, Savuth rose to the rank of Brigadier-General. Despite assurances, from the Republic's US backers, that Savuth was "better drunk than most Cambodian officers sober", his most prominent campaign (Operation Chenla I) was a military disaster.
In 1971, Savuth wrote to US President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, offering him his pet elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
"Khaat" ("Little Frog") as a gift. Nixon did not respond to the offer, though Savuth's wife told Peter R. Kann
Peter R. Kann
Peter R. Kann is a journalist, editor, and businessman. He covered the Vietnam War for The Wall Street Journal and also covered other Asian wars. He earned a Pulitzer in 1972 for his coverage of the Indo-Pakistan War in Bangladesh. In 1976 he became the first editor and publisher of The Wall...
of the Wall Street Journal that she was rather pleased with this as "giving away an elephant is bad luck".
Savuth was killed in a car accident in November 1972. A newsreel of his subsequent cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
(in accordance with traditional Buddhist practices) is still held by the Documentation Center of Cambodia
Documentation Center of Cambodia
The Documentation Center of Cambodia is a Cambodian non-governmental organization whose mission is to research and record the era of Democratic Kampuchea for the purposes of memory and justice.-History:...
.