Nhiek Tioulong
His Excellency Samdech Chakrei Samdech Nhiek Tioulong | |
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Nhiek Tioulong in New York City, 1961. | |
Acting Prime Minister of Cambodia | |
In office 13 February 1962 – 6 August 1962 | |
President | Norodom Sihanouk |
Preceded by | Norodom Sihanouk |
Succeeded by | Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum (acting) |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 1961–1962 | |
Prime Minister | Norodom Sihanouk |
Preceded by | Tep Phan |
Succeeded by | Norodom Kantol |
Minister of Economy and Finance | |
In office 17 October 1945 – 14 December 1946 | |
Prime Minister | Sisowath Monireth |
Personal details | |
Born |
Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 23 August 1908
Died |
9 June 1996 87) Hong Kong, China | (aged
Political party | Funcinpec Party |
Other political affiliations |
Sangkum (1955–1970) Khmer Renovation (1947–1955) |
Spouse(s) | Measketh Samphotre |
Children |
Visakha Tioulong Raingsi Tioulong Dala Tioulong Saumura Tioulong Kethy Tioulong Antonya Tioulong Neva Tioulong |
Profession | Politician, author, soldier |
Religion | Buddhism |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Cambodia |
Service/branch | Royal Cambodian Army |
Years of service | 1949–1996 |
Rank | General |
Nhiek Tioulong (Khmer: ញឹក ជូឡុង; August 23, 1908 – June 9, 1996) was a Cambodian army officer and politician who served as Acting Prime Minister of Cambodia from 13 February 1962 to 6 August 1962. He was a prominent politician during the tenure of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. He also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the 1960s and repeatedly as governor of provinces in Cambodia. Tioulong was the father of Tioulong Saumura and father in law of opposition leader Sam Rainsy.
Biography
Nhiek Tioulong was born in 1908 in Phnom Penh, in a family of mandarins with Chinese ancestry near the palace. After primary education in Lycee Sisowath in Phnom Penh, he joined the school Chasseloup Laubatin Saigon where he passed a Bachelor of Philosophy. He returned to Cambodia in 1932 and served as governor of Pursat in 1937 and from 1939 to 1944 as governor of Kampong Cham. On March 9, 1945, he was appointed governor of Phnom Penh.
Under the Sisowath Monireth administration, he served as minister of finance from 17 October 1945 to 14 December 1946. He also served as Minister of Education during the Son Ngoc Thanh administration. In April 1948 he became the Cambodian government delegate from the French High Commissioner in Indochina and in August of the same year, representative of Cambodia to the High Council of the French Union in Paris. In September, he is part of the French delegation to the UN, as an advisor. On 22 November 1949 he was appointed colonel of the Khmer Royal Army and Chief of Staff. In May 1950, he was appointed as a governor again, of Battambang Province. In 1951, he returned to his position as Minister of Finance.
At the end of December 1953, after Cambodia gained independence, he was appointed the new governor of Phnom Penh and took part in negotiations with the French on the latest skills transfer between the colonial administration and the Cambodian government. On 7 April 1954, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He became the first General of the Royal Cambodian Army. In 1955, he began his career as ambassador, to Japan, Poland, and finally Czechoslovakia.
In 1969, he retired to France and remained in the shadows until the mid 1980s when he became vice-president of the National United Front for an Independent, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia neutral (FUNCINPEC). This party was created by Norodom Sihanouk to fight the new regime established in Phnom Penh by Vietnamese troops. He led the Funcinpec from 1989 to 1992.
Tioulong died in a Hong Kong hospital on June 9, 1996, aged 87.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Norodom Sihanouk |
Prime Minister of Cambodia Acting 1962 |
Succeeded by Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum |
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