Lon Nol


Lon Nol

(lŏn nōl), 1913–85, Cambodian general and political leader. He became defense minister and army chief of staff in 1955 in Norodom SihanoukSihanouk, Norodom
, 1922–2012, king of Cambodia (1941–55, 1993–2004), b. Phnom Penh. Sihanouk was educated in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and Paris and was elected king by a royal council in 1941.
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's government. He served as premier (1966–67) under Sihanouk. In 1970, he led the coup that deposed Sihanouk, and assumed control of the government. He attempted unsuccessfully to suppress the Communist Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge
, name given to native Cambodian Communists. Khmer Rouge soldiers, aided by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops, began a large-scale insurgency against government forces in 1970, quickly gaining control over more than two thirds of the country.
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 guerrillas, and his efforts plunged the country into civil war. After temporarily relinquishing power, he seized control in 1972 and suspended the constitution. Due to his inept leadership and anti-Communist fervor, he was forced to leave the country in 1975, when the Khmer Rouge advanced on the capital city. He settled in Hawaii.

Nol, Lon:

see Lon NolLon Nol
, 1913–85, Cambodian general and political leader. He became defense minister and army chief of staff in 1955 in Norodom Sihanouk's government. He served as premier (1966–67) under Sihanouk.
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.

Lon Nol

 

Born Nov. 2, 1913. Cambodian political figure. General.

Lon Nol held important administrative posts under the colonial regime. After the proclamation of Cambodia’s independence in 1953, he served as chief of staff of the Cambodian Army (1955-66) and was several times minister of defense. In August 1969 he was appointed prime minister. He played a major role in the coup of Mar. 18, 1970, and was elected presi-dent of the Khmer Republic in Phnom Penh in 1972. In April 1975 the Lon Nol regime was overthrown by the Cambodian patriotic forces. [15-47.3]