The Cambodian coup of 1970 refers to removal of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and the subsequent elevation of Lon Nol as head of state in Cambodia in 1970. Time in office: April 24, 1941–March 3, 1955; November 20, 1991–October 7, 2004 (King from September 24, 1993) Predecessor: Sisowath Monivong (first time); Chea Sim (second time) Successor: Norodom Suramarit (first time); Norodom Sihamoni (second time) Date of Birth: October 31, 1922 Place of Birth: Phnom Penh His... General Lon Nol General Lon Nol (November 13, 1913 - November 17, 1985) was a Cambodian politician and former Defence Minister of Cambodia. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Background

Since independence from France in 1953 Cambodia was led by Prince Norodom Sihanouk who guided Cambodia into a position of effective neutrality during the Cold War. When wars in Vietnam and Laos broke out in the coming decade he was able to manuever Cambodia out of conflict, although this proved costly. The NLF and North Vietnamese established numerous bases in eastern Cambodia in the 1960s which subsequently provoked American bombing of the region in 1969 (Operation MENU). Leftist and rightist factions in the Cambodian government and elsewhere vied for power in this scene of political instability, the left calling for an alliance with the Communists while the right called for the expulsion of Vietnamese and an alliance with the United States. One of the more radical left-wing groups was the Khmer Rouge Communist insurgency which combatted Sihanouk with North Vietnamese backing. 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Time in office: April 24, 1941–March 3, 1955; November 20, 1991–October 7, 2004 (King from September 24, 1993) Predecessor: Sisowath Monivong (first time); Chea Sim (second time) Successor: Norodom Suramarit (first time); Norodom Sihamoni (second time) Date of Birth: October 31, 1922 Place of Birth: Phnom Penh His... For the generic term for a high-tension struggle between countries, see cold war (war). ... National Liberation Front (NLF) flag NLF prisoner The National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam (Vietnamese Mặt Trận Giải Phóng Miền Nam Việt Nam), also known as the National Liberation Front (NLF) and as Front National de Liberté (FNL), was the primary rebel organization fighting the Colonialist French regime... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cá»™ng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was founded by Ho Chi Minh and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the Soviet Union in 1950. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Some of the Khmer Rouge leadership during their period in power. ...

The coup

In March 1970 when Sihanouk was touring Europe, the Soviet Union, and China a mob attack against the North Vietnamese embassy, initially planned by Sihanouk as a demonstration to pressure Moscow and Beijing, commenced but was led out of control by government agents who managed to organize the complete sacking of it. In it a contingency was found for the Commmunists to occupy Cambodia, which further inflamed the government in Phnom Penh which engaged in combat with the Vietnamese and demanded their withdrawal. Instead of returning to Cambodia to confront the growing crisis, Sihanouk continued his tour of Communist nations. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

On March 16 the Cambodian Secretary of State and police chief Mannorine was questioned by the national legislature about corruption occurring under Sihanouk. Worried that prime minister and general Lon Nol was preparing a coup, he attempted to depose him only to be defeated by the army and arrested. Lon Nol's deputy Sirik Matak then advised Nol to remove Sihanouk from the government. General Lon Nol General Lon Nol (November 13, 1913 - November 17, 1985) was a Cambodian politician and former Defence Minister of Cambodia. ...

The next day the army surrounded the National Assembly and it thus voted unanimously to invoke Article 122 of the Cambodian constitution which withdrew confidence in Sihanouk. Lon Nol then became his effective successor, while much of the government of Sihanouk remained the same. This marked the foundation of the Khmer Republic.

Aftermath

The new regime in Cambodia almost immediately came under attack by the Khmer Rouge and North Vietnam, who were worried of their bases being potentially threatened. Sihanouk, out of the country, soon allied himself with the Khmer Rouge and formed FUNK and GRUNK "liberation" groups, which served as Khmer Rouge fronts while it simultaneously gained support from the royalists in mostly rural areas who rioted in favor of the prince. Lon Nol was hard pressed to deal with the opposition as he and his government were corrupt and could not effectively deal with the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Republic became dependent on American arms and airstrikes for survival until the air support was cut off by the U.S. Congress in 1973 and aid limited thereafter. In 1975 the Khmer Republic came to its end as Communist forces captured Phnom Penh in April that year. Some of the Khmer Rouge leadership during their period in power. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was founded by Ho Chi Minh and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the Soviet Union in 1950. ... General Lon Nol General Lon Nol (November 13, 1913 - November 17, 1985) was a Cambodian politician and former Defence Minister of Cambodia. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... City motto: No motto City proper Province Phnom Penh Mayor Kep Chuktema ( ) Area 290 km² Population 862,000 Density 3446. ...