Sisowath Monireth

Chairman of the Regency CouncilActing
6 April 1960 – 13 June 1960Prime MinisterNorodom Sihanouk
Pho ProeungPreceded byChuop Hell (acting)
as Chief of StateSucceeded byChuop Hell (acting)
as Chief of StatePrime Minister of CambodiaIn office
17 October 1945 – 15 December 1946MonarchNorodom SihanoukPreceded bySon Ngoc ThanhSucceeded bySisowath Youtevong Personal detailsBorn(1909-11-25)25 November 1909
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, French IndochinaDiedSeptember 1975 (aged 65)
KampucheaPolitical partySangkum (1955–70)Other political
affiliationsIndependent (1945–55; 1970–75)SpousePok Rosette VaniChildrenParentsAwardsLegion of Honour
Croix de guerreHouseSisowathMilitary serviceAllegiance French Third Republic
 Free FranceBranch/serviceFrench Foreign Legion^[1]
5th Foreign Infantry RegimentYears of service1939–1945Battles/warsWorld War II^[1]

Sisowath Monireth (Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុន្នីរ៉េត; 25 November 1909 – September 1975)^[2] 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 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.^[1]

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, Monireth succeeded in forming out of former colonial NCOs 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.^[3]

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.

In 1975, he was executed by the Khmer Rouge after the Fall of Phnom Penh.

Sisowath Monireth House of Sisowath Born: 9 November 1909 Died: September 1975
Political offices
Preceded by Chuop Hell (acting)	Chairman of the Regency Council (acting) 1960	Succeeded by Chuop Hell (acting)
Preceded by Sơn Ngọc Thành	Prime Minister of Cambodia 1945–1946	Succeeded by Sisowath Youtevong

See also

References