In Tam

In Tam (September 22, 1916 - April 1, 2006) is a former Prime Minister of Cambodia. He served in that position from May 6 1973 to December 9 1973, and had a long career in Cambodian politics.

In Tam was born in Prek Kak village in Stoueng Trang district, Kampong Cham province in eastern Cambodia. During the 1960s he served in several posts in the government of Norodom Sihanouk, most notably as interior minister from 1964 to 1966. In 1972 he ran for President of Cambodia, coming in second place and receiving 24% of the vote, losing to Lon Nol. The following year he served as prime minister for seven months in Lon Nol's government.

When the Khmer Rouge gained control of Cambodia in April 1975, In Tam was at his farm in Poipet, Cambodia. He almost certainly would have been executed, but he fled to Thailand and started a rebellion against the Khmer Rouge on the border. This did not last long, however, as the Thai authorities deported him. He went to France and then in 1976 moved to the United States where he received asylum.

Following the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, In Tam supported Norodom Sihanouk against the Vietnamese-backed government, but returned to Cambodia several times. He was one of three ministers of National Defense of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. [ [http://www.geocities.com/khmerchronology/cgdk1985.htm Chronology of Cambodian History, 1900-1919 ] ] He founded the Cambodian Democratic Party, which failed to win seats in Parliament in the 1993 elections. In 1997 he made an alliance with the Cambodian People's Party.

In Tam died in Chandler, Arizona in the southwestern United States.

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