Khmer National Liberation Committee

Khmer People's Liberation Committee (in Khmer language: "Kana Cheat Mouta Keaha Mocchim Nokor Khmer", _fr. Comité de libération du peuple khmer) was a Cambodian anticolonial movement, formed by "Issarak" elements on February 1, 1948. The Committee and its armed forces were led by Dap Chhuon. Other leading figures of the Committee included Hong Chhun, Mey Pho, Sieu Heng, Leav Keo Moni, Moun, Mao Sarouth (political commissar) and Hem Savang (foreign affairs). The armed forces of the Committee numbered around 800 at the time. The Committee published "L'Indépendence" (in French) and "Ekareach" (in Khmer). The Committee had cooperation with the Vietnamese Viet Minh. [Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 58.]

By the end of 1948 the Khmer resistance movements had divided the country between them into four military zones. Dap Chhuon was awarded the North-West. The three other zones were led by rebel leaders who had joined the Indochinese Communist Party. Chhoun was became increasingly isolated as a non-communist within the resistance leadership, within his own KPLC leadership four committee members either had joined ICP or were about to join it. This development caused the KPLC to distance itself from the communist-led Viet Minh and spurred changes in the KPLC leadership.

In 1949 KPLC was renamed Khmer National Liberation Committee (in Khmer: "Kana Kamathikar Khmer Sang Cheat", _fr. Comité National Khmer de Libération). When a new Committee was elected in the January 1949, the number of identified leftists was reduced to three, Mey Pho (Information Branch), Leav Keo Moni (Economy Branch) and Moun (Treasury Branch). [Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 59.] During the first half of 1949, the organization was torn apart by opposition to Chhoun's authoritarian leadership style. Bunchhan Mul defected. Leav Keo Moni broke away, and took a few hundred fighters with him. Kao Tak broke away in April 1949, along with 400 fighters. (Both would later return to the KNLC). In July Chhoun had Mao Sarouth and Hem Savang assassinated. Soon thereafter he was removed from the KNLC leadership. Later in July Poc Khun became the new leader of the organization. At the same time Prince Norodom Chantaraingsey joined the KNLC, and became its Supreme Army Chief. Chhoun surrendered to the French authorities in September 1949, along with 300 fighters. [Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 60, 76.]

In early 1950 Poc Khun was removed as the KNLC leader, after being accused of having embezzled 600 000 piastres intended for arms purchases in Bangkok. On April 19 Leav Keo Moni was elected the new president of KNLC. Kao Tak became the 'President of National Defense' of KNLC. In October 1950, a joint KNLC and United Issarak Front delegation travelled to South Vietnam for talks with Viet Minh.Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 95.]

In February 1951, a KNLC meeting in Battambang, at which Leav Keo Moni was re-elected KNLC president. Kao Tak was removed from his post, accused of excesses against the local population committed under his command. There were also political differences between Leav Keo Moni and Kao Tak that had simmered for some time, as Kao Tak opposed rapproachment with the Viet Minh. Soon after the Battambang meeting Kao Tak attempt to kill Leav Keo Moni in an ambush on February 13, after which the KNLC issued a death sentence on Kao Tak (who managed to escape).

In April, the three KNLC delegates to Vietnam returned to Cambodia. After their return, cooperation between KNLC and UIF was strengthened. On August 20 1951 a KNLC congress was, which re-elected Leav Keo Moni as the KNLC president.

By the end of 1951 Kao Tak had again reorganized his forces, around 300 fighters. However, the KNLC forces soon defeated them. Kao Tak's forces retaliated by killing 15 civilians, accused of aiding the KNLC.Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 96.]

At the time the KNLC armed forces consisted of three separate band, each functioning in a somewhat autonomous fashion. Two bands, led by Ouch Nilpich and Achar Tumsok, operated in the north of the country. The third, led by Thim Tralay, operated south of Battambang. Tralay's band was in charge of relations with Viet Minh, and operated jointly with Viet Minh forces in the area.

In 1952, Prince Chantaraingsey left the KNLC, along with around 700-1000 followers, and aligned with the government and began fighting Viet Minh and Khmer rebels. [Kiernan, Ben. "How Pol Pot Came to Power". London: Verso, 1985. p. 76.]

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