Ke Pauk ( km, កែ ពក, 1934 – February 15, 2002), also known as Kae Pok, was one of the senior leaders of the
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge (; ; km, ខ្មែរក្រហម, ; ) is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) and by extension to the regime through which the CPK ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979 ...
.
Early life
He was born Ke Vin in Chhouk Ksach Village, Chhouk Ksach Sub-district,
Baray District,
Kampong Thom Province in 1934.
In 1949, following a raid on his village by French forces, Pauk joined the
Khmer Issarak
The Khmer Issarak ( km, ខ្មែរឥស្សរៈ, or 'Independent Khmer') was a "loosely structured" anti- French and anti-colonial independence movement. The movement has been labelled as “amorphous”. The Issarak was ...
independence movement. In 1954, following the
Geneva Conference and Cambodia's independence from
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, Pauk emerged from the forest and was soon arrested. Sentenced to six years in prison he served time in prisons in
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...
and Kampong Thom. However, after spending only three years in prison, Pauk was released.
After his release in 1957, Pauk returned to Chhouk Ksach and married Soeun. Together they were to have six children. His biography states that he was contacted at this time by Party Secretary Siv Heng and asked to rejoin the movement. Pauk joined the nascent Cambodian Communist movement in Svay Teab,
Chamkar Leu District,
Kampong Cham.
Death
Pauk died, apparently of natural causes, while asleep in his home at
Anlong Veng on 15 February 2002.
References
External links
Yale.eduNews.bbc.co.uk
1934 births
2002 deaths
Cambodian communists
Khmer Rouge party members
People from Kampong Thom province
Communist Party of Kampuchea politicians
{{Cambodia-politician-stub