Chhan Sokhom (1924-1975) was a Cambodian politician and cabinet minister. He was born on 22 December 1924 in Phnom Penh. He was a longtime friend and supporter of

Lon Nol Marshal Lon Nol (, also ; 13 November 1913 – 17 November 1985) was a Cambodian military officer and politician who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice (1966–67; 1969–71), as well as serving repeatedly as defence minister and provi ...

. He was an elected member of the

National Assembly of Cambodia The National Assembly (, UNGEGN: ; ) is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Cambodia. It is referred to as the lower house, with the Senate being referred to as the upper house. The National Assembly is an elected body consi ...

from 1962 to 1966. In 1970 he was a supporter of

in the coup d'état. During the

Khmer Republic The Khmer Republic (, ; ) was a Cambodian state under the United States-backed military dictatorship of Marshal Lon Nol from 1970 to 1975. Its establishment was formally declared on 9 October 1970, following the 18 March 1970 coup d'état w ...

he was minister of education until 1971, and made the decision to put more emphasis on the English language in schools, supplanting the role of French language. He was minister of industry, mines and fisheries from 1971 to 1972, and minister of justice for Cambodia from October 1972 to April 1973, then minister of interior and religion from 1973 to 1974. It is believed that he was executed on 17 April 1975 by

Khmer Rouge The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...

References

1924 births 1975 deaths Justice ministers of Cambodia Interior ministers of Cambodia Education ministers of Cambodia Members of the National Assembly (Cambodia) People executed by the Khmer Rouge {{Cambodia-politician-stub