Sihanouk National Army
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In Tam
Norodom Chakrapong
Nhek Bun Chhay
| Sihanouk National Army | |
|---|---|
| កងទ័ពជាតិសីហនុ | |
| Leaders | Norodom Ranariddh In Tam Norodom Chakrapong Nhek Bun Chhay |
| Dates of operation | 1982 – 1993 |
| Active regions | Cambodia |
| Ideology | Monarchism Khmer nationalism |
| Size | over 10,000 (claimed)[1] |
| Part of | FUNCINPEC |
| Opponents |  Vietnam People's Republic of Kampuchea |
| Wars | Cambodian conflict (1979–1998) |
The National Army of the Sihanoukists or Sihanouk National Army (Khmer: កងទ័ពជាតិសីហនុ; French: Armee Nationale Sihanoukiste, ANS) were the armed forces of the Cambodian monarchists who supported Norodom Sihanouk. They were the paramilitary wing of the FUNCINPEC party. In the 1980s, it participated in the armed struggle against the Vietnamese occupation and the PRK government. In the Kingdom of Cambodia, it continued to function as the FUNCINPEC party armed wing. It was incorporated into the Royal Cambodian Army.
After the Vietnamese intervention and the overthrow of Democratic Kampuchea in January 1979, Cambodia was ruled by the pro-Vietnamese and pro-Soviet regime of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, retreated to the hard-to-reach areas of the western part of the country. The National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (NDK), which they established, launched a guerrilla war. In October 1979, the National Liberals Son Sann created the KPNLF with its Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF). The third opposition group were the supporters of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, organized in the FUNCINPEC and MOULINAKA parties.[2]
On June 22, 1982, Khieu Samphan, Son Sann and Sihanouk established the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK), a bloc of the Democratic Kampuchea Party (Khmer Rouge), KPNLF and FUNCINPEC in the Kuala Lumpur. Soon, a meeting was held between the commanders of the armed groups — Son Sung, Sak Sutsakan and Norodom Ranarita. The latter represented the armed forces of FUNCINPEC and MOULINAKA. They were named the National Sihanoukist Army (the French-language name Armée Nationale Sihanoukiste, ANS was adopted internationally). The Military Coordination Meeting of the CGDK was established.
A narrower military structure was also created — the Joint Military Command (JMC) of the non — communist part of the CGDK-Republicans and Sihanoukists. Sak Soutsakan (KPNLAF) became the Commander — in — Chief, Teap Ben (ANS) became the Deputy, Toan Chai (ANS) became the Chief of the General Staff, and Abdul Ghaffar Peang — Met (KPNLAF) became his deputy.[3]