Heng Samrin

His Excellency Samdech Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin MP
President of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 March 2006
Monarch	Norodom Sihamoni
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Vice President	Nguon Nhel (2006–present) Say Chhum (2006–2012) Khuon Sodary (2012–2014) Kem Sokha (2014–2015)
Preceded by	Norodom Ranariddh
First Vice President of the National Assembly
In office 26 January 1998 – 21 March 2006
President	Norodom Ranariddh
Succeeded by	Nguon Nhel
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party
In office 5 December 1981 – 17 October 1991
Preceded by	Pen Sovan
Succeeded by	Chea Sim, as President of the Cambodian People's Party
President of the People's Republic of Kampuchea
In office 7 January 1979 – 6 April 1992
Prime Minister	Pen Sovan Chan Sy Hun Sen
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Chea Sim, as Chairman of the Council of State
Personal details
Born	(1934-05-25) 25 May 1934 Kampong Cham, Cambodia
Political party	Cambodian People's Party
Spouse(s)	Sao Ty
Children	4
Religion	Buddhism

Heng Samrin (Khmer: ហេង សំរិន; born 25 May 1934) is the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Honorary President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and a Member of Parliament for Kampong Cham Province. He previously served as the de facto leader of the Hanoi-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea from 1979 to 1981 and General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (the CPP's former name) from 1981 to 1991. Heng Samrin is Cambodia's oldest parliamentarian, at 90 years of age. His honorary title is "Samdech Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin" (Khmer: សម្តេចអគ្គមហាពញាចក្រី ហេង សំរិន).

Life and career

Heng Samrin was born in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia, in 1934. He joined the Khmer Rouge communist movement led by Pol Pot, and became a political commissar and army division commander when the Khmer Rouge, backed by China, took over the government in 1975. In 1978, after a series of violent purges within the Khmer Rouge leadership in which many prominent cadre members whom Pol Pot felt might be rivals were executed, he fled to Vietnam. In Vietnam he was one of the founding members of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (FUNSK). Later that year, Heng returned to Cambodia and organized a resistance movement with the backing and support of Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

After a Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia overthrew the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Vietnamese occupation authorities established the People's Republic of Kampuchea, installing Heng and other pro-Vietnamese Communist politicians as leaders of the new government. He became chairman of the People's Revolutionary Council of the PRK in 1979. In 1981 he became chairman of the Council of State and secretary-general of the People's Revolutionary Party. Though at first he was the effective leader of the government, he quickly lost much of his power when the more moderate Hun Sen became Prime Minister in 1985. As Vietnamese influence declined, Samrin gradually lost his posts, including the post of secretary-general in 1991 and chairman of the council of state in 1992. When King Norodom Sihanouk was restored in 1993, Samrin was given the honorary title of Sâmdech, senior advisor of the King, and was made honorary chairman of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party. He was vice chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia (1998–2006). Since 2006, he has acted as Chairman of the Solidarity Front for Development of the Cambodian Motherland.

The Cambodian People's Party recently released a book about Samrin called A Man of the People, dedicated to him as a hero. According to that book, among supporters of the ruling CPP Heng Samrin is a "much loved and respected figure", even though his recent duties are often largely ceremonial. His full title is Samdach Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Protean Radhsaphea ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea (Khmer: សម្តេចអគ្គមហាពញាចក្រី ហេង សំរិន ប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា នៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា).

See also

• People's Republic of Kampuchea

External links

• http://www.seasite.niu.edu/khmer/Ledgerwood/biographies.htm

Political offices
Preceded by Khieu Samphan President of the State Presidium	Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea 1979 – 1981	Succeeded by Himself Chairman of the State Council
Preceded by Himself Chairman of the Revolutionary Council	Chairman of the State Council of Cambodia 1981 – 1992	Succeeded by Chea Sim
Preceded by Norodom Ranariddh	President of the National Assembly of Cambodia 2006 – present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Pen Sovan	General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party 1981 – 1991	Succeeded by Chea Sim President of the People's Party

Template:Presidents of the National Assembly of Cambodia