Peter Khoy Saukam
| General Peter Khoy Saukam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Khmer Republic Acting | |
|
In office April 1, 1975 – April 12, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Lon Nol |
| Succeeded by |
Sak Sutsakhan as Chairman of the Supreme Committee |
| 1st President of the Senate | |
|
In office 1972–1975 | |
| Prime Minister |
Sisowath Sirik Matak Son Ngoc Thanh Hang Thun Hak In Tam Long Boret |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Chea Sim (Office reestablished in 1999) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Saukam Khoy February 2, 1915 |
| Died |
November 14, 2008 (aged 93) Stockton, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Social Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | Vom Tep Saukam |
| Children | 7 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Cambodia  Khmer Republic |
| Service/branch |
Royal Cambodian Army Khmer National Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1975 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
Peter Khoy Saukam (born Saukam Khoy Khmer: សូកាំ ខូយ; February 2, 1915 – November 14, 2008) was Acting President of the Khmer Republic for 12 days in April 1975. He was President of the Senate from 1972 to 1975.
Early life
Born on 2 February 1915, Saukam Khoy enlisted into the Khmer Royal Army in 1940, when he was 25. He achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1953 and subsequently, lieutenant-general. He became President of the Senate of the Khmer Republic in 1972[1]
Presidency
He took office on 1 April 1975, when a tearful Lon Nol left 'temporarily' with his entire family for Bali in Indonesia after an invitation from his friend, Indonesian President Suharto.[2]
Khoy's time in office was short. He left Phnom Penh together with American Ambassador John Gunther Dean aboard a CH-53 helicopter during the evacuation of American embassy staff and civilians, dubbed Operation Eagle Pull on 12 April, just five days before Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge.[3]
Khoy died at the age of 93 in Stockton, California, United States on 14 November 2008.[4]
References
- ↑ Time runs short for Phnom Penh, Monday 7th April 1975 Time Magazine
- ↑ Waiting for the Fall, Monday 14th April 1975 Time Magazine
- ↑ American Pullout from a City Under Siege, 21st April, 1975, Time Magazine
- ↑ Fallen Leader Mourned, 21st November 2008 The Record