Bun Chanmol
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Bun Chanmol (Khmer: ប៊ុណ្ណ ចន្ទម៉ុល) was a Cambodian political activist and
writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...
who was executed by the
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 ...
after the
fall of Phnom Penh The Fall of Phnom Penh was the capture of Phnom Penh, capital of the Khmer Republic (in present-day Cambodia), by the Khmer Rouge on 17 April 1975, effectively ending the Cambodian Civil War. At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, one of th ...
. According to political scientist Sorpong Peou, his best-selling political pamphlet, ''Charret Khmer'' (, 'The Khmer character'), is "perhaps the most widely read book among Cambodians".


Biography


The youngest prisoner after the Umbrella Revolution

Bun Chanmol was born in Cambodia in 1921 close to the
Royal Palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania {, class="wikitable" width="95%" , - bgcolor="white" !align=center, Residence !align=center, Photo !align=center, City !align=cen ...
as the fourth son of the district governor of Ta Khmau. In 1934, at age 13, he was sent by his family to join the Buddhist monkhood at Wat Langka under the modernist abbot Lvea Em. In 1940, he left the monkhood to start boxing and became one of the top fights of Khmer ''
bokator Bokator (, ) or Kun L'bokator (, , ) is an ancient Cambodian battlefield martial art. It is one of the oldest fighting systems existing in the world and is recognised as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Oral tradition indicates that ...
''. After taking part in the Umbrella Revolution led by
Son Ngoc Thanh Sơn Ngọc Thành (; 7 December 1908 – 8 August 1977) was a Cambodian nationalist and republican politician, with a long history as a rebel leader and (for brief periods) a government minister. Early life Thanh was born in Trà Vinh, Viet ...
against the French protectorate in Phnom Penh in 1942, he was the youngest prisoner at age 22 sent along with all monks such as
Hem Chieu Hem Chieu (; 1898 - 1943) was a Cambodian Buddhist monk and a prominent figure in the development of Khmer nationalism. Chieu was a professor at the Higher School of Pali in Phnom Penh, and strongly objected to attempts by the French colonial au ...
and other political activists to Con Son Prison, which housed thousands of convicts from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. There he became famous by being victorious in kickboxing tournaments organized by the prison wards. They were liberated by the Japanese forces in January 1945, after Hiem Chieu passed away from
dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...
.


Cofounder of the Khmer Issarak and royalist nationalist

As he returned to Cambodia, his nationalist spirit was unaltered; even more, it was inflamed. He started publishing the Nokor Wat newspaper again. After the Japanese capitulation In 1945, he co-founded the
Khmer Issarak The Khmer Issarak (, or 'Independent Khmer') was a "loosely structured" anti- French and anti-colonial independence movement. The movement has been labelled as “amorphous”. The Issarak was formed around 1945 and composed of se ...
, an anti-French movement. Yet, after, the French troops arrested Son Ngoc Thanh, on 16 October 1945, Bun Chanmol feared for his life. Therefore, Chanmol fled to live with an uncle in the Pok family and he was married with a bride from the
House of Abhaiwongse Abhayavongsa (; ) is a Thai noble surname used by a Thai family that formerly governed parts of Cambodia which was then ruled by Siam. Despite its long presence in Cambodia, it was never considered part of the Khmer nobility. The Abhayavongsa f ...
in Battambang which was part of the strategy of marital alliances of this old Thai dynasty to keep control over the Northwest of Cambodia. At the same time, as a disciple of non-violence, he rejected the guerilla methods of the Khmer Issarak and quickly parted with their ''
politburo A politburo () or political bureau is the highest organ of the central committee in communist parties. The term is also sometimes used to refer to similar organs in socialist and Islamist parties, such as the UK Labour Party's NEC or the Poli ...
''. In 1951, he became a member of former Prime Minister
Ieu Koeus Ieu Koeus (; 1905 – 14 January 1950) was a Cambodian politician. He served as President of the National Assembly of Cambodia from 1946 to 1949, and as Prime Minister of Cambodia for nine days in September 1949. Considered an intellectual, he ...
's Democratic Party. At that time, Bun Chanmol reconnected with the descendants of
Thiounn Somdach Veang Thiounn (, April 8, 1864–September 1946) was a Cambodian state official of the Khmer nobility during the French protectorate of Cambodia who had a lasting influence on History of Cambodia, Khmer historiography through the Cambodia ...
, who had also been removed from the inner circle of the Royal Palace by King Sihanouk. His little, Bunchan Moly sister was married to Thiounn Hol, who father Thiounn Mumm and others important Khmer rouge cadres. Disgruntled by this opposition, King Norodom Sihanouk dissolved the parliament in 1953. After a meeting with Sihanouk, despite having the King's assurance that they would be safe, Bun Chanmol and other members of the Democratic party were brutalized, stones were thrown at them resulting in bruises and injuries.


Writer and propagandist of nationalist ideology until the last day of the Khmer Republic

In September 1970, along with So Nem, former minister of national education in Cambodia, he led a delegation of Cambodian Buddhists delegates to a meeting in Korea. There, Bun Chanmol redacted an appeal made by the Buddhist association of Cambodia concerning the aggression committed by
Vietcong The Viet Cong (VC) was an epithet and umbrella term to refer to the Communism, communist-driven armed movement and united front organization in South Vietnam. It was formally organized as and led by the National Liberation Front of South Vi ...
North Vietnamese forces against Cambodia which was maintaining a neutral policy until the coup d'état of 1970. In the new Khmer Republic, Bun Chanmol worked under
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 ...
as an undersecretary of propaganda and religion. In 1972, he published his autobiography, ''Political Prison,'' which was an immediate bestseller. Three months after the book first came out, a new edition was already in print. In 1973, he published another book which was a political essay about the moral decay and necessary renewal of the Khmer character. As many influential intellectuals in his generation, he was among the first people executed in April 1975 when the Khmers Rouges entered Phnom Penh and imposed the regime of terror and plunder.


Legacy: defining the Khmer character

Bun Chanmol's 1972 autobiography entitled ''Political Prison'' has become a classic of the canonical literature of post-war Cambodia. His bestseller was followed by another book about ''The Khmer Character.'' He wanted to rekindle the spirit of "Khmer Builders of Angkor" and "Khmer Breed of Angkor Warriors" for the future of Cambodia With lasting peace and prosperity for all Cambodians. He was particularly critical of figures such as the blood-thirsty governor of Siem Reap,
Dap Chhuon Dap Chhuon (), also known as Chuan Khemphet (), Khem Phet, Chhuon Mochulpech () or Chhuon Mchoul Pich () (1912–1959) was a right-wing Cambodian nationalist, guerrilla leader, regional warlord, and general. Chhuon was born in Siem Reap and gre ...
. However, some have seen his criticism as damning judgement on Khmer character: "Bun Chanmol reflects on the deep-seated mistrust that had marked leadership throughout Khmer history." He laments on the "bestial nature and divisions of the Khmer Issarak liberation movement." Thus, some have concluded that there is nothing specific about the Khmer character in his book and that it only expresses his own resentment. His
Khmer nationalism Khmer nationalism (or Cambodian nationalism) is a form of nationalism found in Cambodia, that asserts that Khmers (Cambodians) are a nation and promotes the cultural unity of the Khmer (Cambodian) race. Emergence of Khmer nationalism Unlike in ...
was also tainted with a strong
anti-Vietnamese sentiment Anti-Vietnamese sentiment () involves hostility or hatred that is directed towards Vietnamese people, or the state of Vietnam. This may be due to negative perceptions created by historical tensions, ethnic negative perceptions, wars, or xenophob ...
. In fact, he considered that "''Yuon'' ietnamesesupported
Sihanouk Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the Cambodian royal house who led the country as King, Chief of State and Prime Minister. In Cambodia, he is known as Samdech Euv (meaning "King Father"). During his lifetim ...
in order to conquer the remaining Cambodian territory and destroy the Khmer race". His role in the nationalist movement was praised by his relative and Khmer historian Bun Than in his 1995 book ''Pravat Nak Tasou Khmer'' (The History of Khmer Heroes). Thereafter, his analysis of the corruption of the Khmer character during the Cambodian Civil War and the necessity to return to the heroic character of past heroes of Cambodia inspired
Hun Sen Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
who recommended that the book be printed and read again in 1995 and it continues to inspire younger Khmer generations in the third millennium.


References


Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bun, Chanmol Cambodian politicians 1921 births 1975 deaths