Ung Huot
Encyclopedia
Ung Huot is a Cambodia
n political figure.
Ung moved to Australia
in the early 1970s, as Cambodia's civil war was beginning. He settled in Melbourne
and proclaimed himself a leader of the Cambodian expatriate committee in that city. He moved back to Cambodia in the early 1990s as the communist government was falling, and became a high-ranking official in the Funcinpec
party. He became the minister of education, and in 1994 he left that post to become foreign minister
.
In July 1997, Funcinpec leader Norodom Ranariddh
, who was serving as first prime minister, was deposed by second prime minister Hun Sen
of Funcinpec's rival and coalition partner, the Cambodian People's Party
. Hun invited Ung to become first prime minister to replace Ranariddh. Ranariddh's father, King Norodom Sihanouk
at first refused to recognize the arrangement, but Ung became first prime minister in August 1997 after being elected by Parliament. Many, particularly within Funcinpec , accused Ung of being a puppet, and he was forced to leave Funcinpec and form his own party, the Rastra-Niyum party. In the 1998 elections, the Rastra-Niyum party did not gain any seats in Parliament, and Ung was forced to resign from the posts of first prime minister and foreign minister, leaving Hun to be the sole prime minister.
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 political figure.
Ung moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the early 1970s, as Cambodia's civil war was beginning. He settled in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and proclaimed himself a leader of the Cambodian expatriate committee in that city. He moved back to Cambodia in the early 1990s as the communist government was falling, and became a high-ranking official in the Funcinpec
Funcinpec
FUNCINPEC is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Before the 2008 election, FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party formed a coalition government, although FUNCINPEC's significance has decreased steadily since 1998, when it had an equal relationship with the CPP in the coalition.FUNCINPEC is...
party. He became the minister of education, and in 1994 he left that post to become foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
.
In July 1997, Funcinpec leader Norodom Ranariddh
Norodom Ranariddh
Prince Norodom Ranariddh is the second son of former king Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and a half brother of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni.-Biography:...
, who was serving as first prime minister, was deposed by second prime minister Hun Sen
Hun Sen
Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...
of Funcinpec's rival and coalition partner, the Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party
The Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...
. Hun invited Ung to become first prime minister to replace Ranariddh. Ranariddh's father, King 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...
at first refused to recognize the arrangement, but Ung became first prime minister in August 1997 after being elected by Parliament. Many, particularly within Funcinpec , accused Ung of being a puppet, and he was forced to leave Funcinpec and form his own party, the Rastra-Niyum party. In the 1998 elections, the Rastra-Niyum party did not gain any seats in Parliament, and Ung was forced to resign from the posts of first prime minister and foreign minister, leaving Hun to be the sole prime minister.