Thailand and Khmer Issarak(02)

Thailand and Khmer Issarak(02)

Dr Son Ngoc Thanh

(1908-1977)

 

The peace proclamation of Regent Pridi on August 16, 1945, the letter further stated, corresponded with the feelings of the Khmer people, who wished that the Regent would convey to the United Nations their desire that the independence  of Cambodia be assured. In the same letter, Son Ngoc Thanh, in an attempt to use Thailand as a bridge in contact with the United Nations, wrote;

…trusting in the traditional ties of cordial fiendship (that exists) between our two countries, I have the honor to send your Excellency’s government my representative, the Oknha Oudon Montrey-Pann Young-,(who is)  charged with presenting to the highest competent authorities of the United Nations the ardent wish of the people of Khmer of seeing the national independence of Cambodia assured.

Son Ngoc Thanh’s representatives led by Pann Yung were warmly received in Bangkok. The Thai rulers were not in position to help Son Ngoc Than seek an assurance from the United Nations of the national independence of Cambodia. However, the Thai government entered into an agreement with the Cambodian mission to sell arms and ammunition to resist the re-entry of the French into Cambodia. In the meantime, the French had entered Cambodia. But the association was continued and the arms obtained were employed by the Issaraks to attack the French.

In early 1946 Pock Khun‘s Khmer Issarak strength was considerably increased, when they were joined by Son Ngoc Thanh’s followers led by Pan Yung, who were anti-French in their views. Pannn Yung was then Presidenent of the Khmer Issarak, which styled itself the Provisional Government of Free Cambodia.

In early 1946, the headquarters of the issarak was at the house of the mother-in-law of Pock Khun (Phra Phiset) in battambang; the latter then served as the  Issarak’s representative in Bangkok. The Issarak was recognized semi-officially by the Thai authorities in the disputed territories, who allowed it to function. and supplied arms to the movement only when the French entered the retro-ceded territories.