General information
First Active Year: 1979
Current Name: KPNLF
Current Name full English: Khmer People’s National Liberation Front
Current Name full native language: រណសិរ្សរំដោះជាតិប្រជាជនខ្មែរ
Original Name: KPNLF
Original Name full English: Khmer People’s National Liberation Front
Original Name full native language: រណសិរ្សរំដោះជាតិប្រជាជនខ្មែរ
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Conflict Goal Issues: KPNLF (Khmer People’s National Liberation Front) was a rebel group founded in October 1979 in Cambodia. Geographically the group put its focus on national goals concerning the whole of Cambodia. KPNLF was royalist as well as anti-communist. Even though KPNLF was first registered as active in the UCDP in 1979, no conflict goal issues were coded until 1989, when the group called for a democratic system. At the time, the group’s chief of staff Dien Del further emphasized the goal of pressing “the Phnom Penh government to negotiate a power-sharing settlement." Despite the group’s initial focus on power-sharing, it later demanded that the government must step down before elections could be held. KPNLF further advocated for an electoral reform that would ensure proportional representation in elections. The KPNLF leadership expressed concerns over the overall security situation in the capital of Cambodia for its members and advocated for holding meetings with the other conflict parties in Thailand instead of Phnom Penh. It was not possible to differentiate the group’s main conflict goals issues due to an overall low number of documented conflict goal issues.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: The first documented conflict dynamics issue from KPNLF dates back to 1981. In that year, the group raised allegations against the military conduct of the Vietnamese intervention. KPNLF claimed that Vietnam had used knockout gas against it in the past and was again transporting chemicals into Cambodia. KPNLF put an early focus on the decrease of foreign involvement concerning the Vietnamese intervention. The group raised allegations that Vietnamese troops were still present in Cambodia. Over time the group raised a range of demands to increase foreign involvement in the conflict. It called for swift deployment of peacekeepers, military support in the form of weapons from China, and political as well as military support by the United States of America. The group also demanded that a potential ceasefire must be monitored by the United Nations. The call for increasing military support is interpreted as the main conflict dynamics issue by the KPNLF. The group expressed the issue over several years and gave it special emphasis. The group’s high command for example said that it “would like very much to receive lethal aid from the United States, and it is awaiting anxiously to receive such aid”, whilst also stating that “the high command of the KPNLF has never received one weapon from the government of the United States.” In other instances the group made public that it urgently awaited arms from China.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The group’s first conflict resolution issue was documented in 1990, when the group raised opposition to a peace agreement resulting from peace talks in Tokyo. A spokesman for the KPNLF said that the group felt not bound to the results of the peace talks, because no representative of the group was present at the talks. In addition to the group’s opposition to the Tokyo peace agreement described above, the KPNLF later expressed demands relating to the structure of negotiations. Here, the group expressed that negotiations would have to take place in Thailand and not in the capital of Cambodia. It was not possible to differentiate the group’s main conflict resolution issue, due to an overall low number of documented conflict resolution issues.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: CPS: Democracy, Executive power-sharing, Law and order, Oust full executive, Reform executive structure
Conflict Dynamics Issues: DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: Military support, IFI: Political support, Military conduct, Release of prisoners
*Conflict Resolution Issues: Opposition to peace agreement, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1979
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1980
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1981
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1982
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1983
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1984
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1985
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1986
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1987
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1988
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1989
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1990
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
1991
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1979 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF). The military section was named the Khmer People’s National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF).
Comment on Active: The group was formed on 9 October 1979 and was active in the border region of Kampuchea and Thailand.
Troop Size: 5000
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLAF reportedly consisted of 5000 soldiers.
Secondary Support: China reportedly supported the group with weapons, ammunition and money. No reports about the amounts.
1980 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF). The military section was named the Khmer People’s National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF).
Comment on Active: In August 1980 the National Liberation Movement of Kampuchea (MOULINAKA) agreed to cooperate with the KPNLF, following the death of their leader, Kong Sileah. MOULINAKA was formed in August 1979. The KPNLF announced soon afterwards that they would not cooperate with the Khmer Rouge. On 28 November 1980 the Khmer Rouge, however, launched a joint military operation together with the MOULINAKA.
Troop Size: 2000
Comment on Troop Size: The leader of the KPNLAF, Gen. Dien Del, claimed that the group consisted of 2000 soldiers.
Secondary Support: The KPNLF and its military section were frequently allowed to withdraw into Thailand when threatened by the Vietnamese troops.
1981 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF). The Khmer People’s National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF) was the military section.
Comment on Active: The MOULINAKA announced their support for the KPNLF.
Troop Size: 3000 – 9000
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF was estimated to consist of 3000 – 9000 troops, with 6000 being the most frequently used estimate.
Secondary Support: The KPNLF received a larger shipment of weapons and military equipment from China. The shipment contained AK 47s, B-40 rockets and other military equipment. It was estimated to be enough material for about 1500 soldiers. The group also held American weapons which were believed to have been given to them by the Thai military. They were also allowed to withdraw into Thai territory when under pressure from the Vietnamese troops.
1982 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: On 22 June 1982 the Khmer Rouge, the KPNLF and Prince Sihanouk (FUNCINPEC) agreed to form the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK). The coalition was officially proclaimed on 7 July. Prince Sihanouk was named president, Khieu Samphan (Khmer Rouge) vice president in charge of foreign affairs and Son Sann (KPNLF) prime minister. The aim of the CGDK was to cooperate and conduct a joint struggle to oust the government and the Vietnamese troops. The CGDK was later recognized by the UN General Assembly. The agreement stated that each party should maintain organisational and political autonomy, but the military efforts were going to be coordinated.
Troop Size: 7 000
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF was estimated to consist of between 5000 – 9000 troops. The leader, Son Sann, claimed that the group had 115 000 civilian supporters and 9000 armed troops.
Secondary Support: Singapore was reported to have sent two shipments containing weapons to the KPNLF. The question whether this actually had happened was raised in the Parliament in Singapore, but it was neither denied nor confirmed. Statements made later did indicate that support had been given. China did not support the KPNLF this year, reports claiming all aid being diverted to the Khmer Rouge. Thailand continued to provide assistance to the KPLNF in terms of allowing control and sanctuary over some refugee bases within Thailand. China grudgingly provided some military assistance to KPNLF (with the bulk of Chinese support going to the KR).
1983 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Troop Size: 10 500
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF was estimated to consist of between 4500 – 12 000 troops.
Secondary Support: The KPNLF received about 1000 rifles, a number of 82-mm mortars and ammunition from China. Malaysia was reported to have trained KPNLF troops. The CGDK members were allowed by Thailand to cross the border freely and to some extent operate within Thailand.Despite strained relations between the members of the CGDK, military cooperation reportedly took place.
1984 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: Although the CGDK members continued to work together, there were several incidents that tested the strength of the coalition. The Khmer Rouge was reported to have attacked KPNLF and FUNCINPEC troops during the summer of 1984 and on 14 July Prince Sihanouk threatened to resign as president of the coalition following an incident were a group of Khmer Rouge soldiers had killed eight soldiers belonging to the FUNCINPEC. The latter incident was later resolved and referred to as a misunderstanding.
Troop Size: 8 250
Comment on Troop Size: The leader of the KPNLF, Mr Son Sann claimed that the group consisted of 20 000 men, of which 13 000 were armed.
Secondary Support: China supported all three members of the CGDK (although the largest amount was given to the Khmer Rouge) with weapons during 1984. Thailand allowed the CGDK troops to cross the border into Thailand and to hold bases within Thai territory.The US administration rejected the idea of giving direct military support to the non-communist groups of the CGDK but agreed to give an estimated 15 000 000 USD in financial support. This money was to be used only for recruitment, training, organisation and similar activities. Despite strained relations between the members of the CGDK, military cooperation reportedly took place.
1985 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: Besides the setbacks during the dry-season offensive, the CGDK faced several internal problems. Prince Sihanouk claimed he wanted to resign as president of the CGDK due to health reasons, however, it was argued that the reason was the lack of support from the Khmer Rouge to the FUNCINPEC during the dry-season offensive. Furthermore, the FUNCINPEC claimed that the Khmer Rouge had killed 38 of their soldiers in various attacks. By the end of the year, Prince Sihanouk remained as president of the CGDK.
There were also discussions between KPNLF and FUNCINPEC to merge into one, this had however not materialised by the end of the year. The leader of KPNLF, Mr Son Sann, was reported as opposed to the idea of a merger.
On 20 December 1985 it was reported that there had been a split in the KPNLF and that the KPNLF’s commander-in-chief, Gen. Sal Sutsakhan, had rebelled against the leader, Mr Son Sann. Sutsakhan formed a Provisional Central Committee for the Salvation of the KPNLF (KPNLF-PCCS) and claimed to have full control over the armed forces of KPNLF. The internal problems had been known since August the same year when a couple of high-ranking officials within KPNLF had been removed from their posts.
Troop Size: 13 500
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF was estimated to consist of between 12 000 – 15 000 armed troops in the beginning of the year. At the end of 1985, it was estimated that the group had lost up to one third of its troops in battle or from desertion.
Secondary Support: China supported all three members of the CGDK with weapons such as mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, machine-guns and antitank weapons, although the Khmer Rouge reportedly received more advanced weapons than the other two groups. Thailand played an important role in the dry-season offensive by letting all of the three CGDK member groups to cross the Thai border freely and to hide from the Vietnamese troops on Thai territory.For the first since the onset of the conflict, the ASEAN members appealed to other countries to provide military, political and humanitarian support to the CGDK. The USA continued to give financial support to KPNLF and FUNCINPEC, but denied giving any military support.
1986 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: The disputes within the KPNLF, which began in August 1985, continued in 1986. After a few turbulent months in the beginning of the year, it was announced that Mr Son Sann maintained the overall leadership but that the military leaders had been given more control over the military operations. The division did however remain and the KPNLF lost most of its military strength.
Despite disputes between the CGDK member groups, several joint military operations were conducted.
Troop Size: < 1000
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF and the FUNCINPEC claimed that their combined force consisted of more than 25 000 guerrilla troops. However, the Thai military claimed that the two groups had less than 1000 armed troops active inside Kampuchea.
Secondary Support: On 11 January 1986 the USA announced that the KPNLF and the FUNCINPEC would receive 3 500 000 USD in non-lethal aid and that the support would be administrated through Thailand.Thailand continued to allow the CGDK member groups to use Thai territory for bases and for escaping the Vietnamese troops. There were no reports about any Chinese support to the KPNLF, but it is possible that weapons were delivered on a smaller scale. Despite disputes between the CGDK member groups, several joint military operations were conducted.
1987 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: On 20 January 187 it was announced that Mr Son Sann, the leader of the KPNLF, and Gen. Sak Sutsakhan, the head of the military operations, had agreed to restore the order and unity within the KPNLF. However, the group had lost most of its military strength and the group made few announcements on military achievements. Western analysts argued that the group played a limited role when it came to the resistance against the Vietnamese and the PRK armies.
In May 1987 Prince Sihanouk announced that he would leave the post as president of the CGDK for a year, reportedly due to attacks by the Khmer Rouge on supporters of the FUNCINPEC as well as on troops belonging to FUNCINPEC’s armed section ANS.
Troop Size: < 1000
Comment on Troop Size: The KPNLF claimed to have about 15 000 armed troops but this figure was considered to be greatly inflated and there was no sign that the amount of troops active within Kampuchea had increased from the previous year. In 1986, it was claimed by Thai military that the group had less than 1000 active troops in Kampuchea.
Secondary Support: The KPNLF and the FUNCINPEC continued to receive financial aid for non-lethal purposes from the USA. Thailand continued to support the CGDK by allowing the groups to operate on Thai territory. The two non-communist groups had previously received weapons and other military equipment from China. Although there were no reports confirming support for 1987, it is possible that support was given on a smaller scale.
1988 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: The Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Comment on Active: On 30 January 1988 Prince Sihanouk announced that had resigned as president of the CGDK. The reason was believed to be the hostility between him and the KPNLF leader, Mr Son Sann, as well as the continued attacks by the Khmer Rouge on FUNCINPEC’s supporters and troops. Prince Sihanouk further announced that his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, would represent him and the FUNCINPEC in the CGDK and in further peace talks.
The KPNLF had not managed to regain its former military strength and western sources argued that of the three resistance groups, Son Sann’s KPNLF was the weakest one.
Troop Size: 5000
Comment on Troop Size: It was estimated that the KPNLF consisted of about 5000 troops, however, this actual number could be lower given the estimates from previous years of less than 1000 troops and that there were no clear indications of new recruitments.
Secondary Support: China pledge its support to all three of the CGDK member groups and claimed that it supported the groups with weapons. USA channelled 3,5 million USD to the KPNLF and the FUNCINPEC. There were also talks about raising the amount substantially in order to strengthen them against the influence of the Khmer Rouge, but this did not materialise during 1988. Several reports indicated that the CGDK continued to operate on Thai territory and that Chinas support was channelled through Thailand. There were also reports that the groups were active in the refugee camps located in Thailand close to the border.
1989 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: Khmer Peoples National Liberation Front. Member of the anti-government umbrella organisation CGDK (Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea), and part of the united KPLNLAF (Khmer Peoples National Liberation Armed Forces.)
Comment on Active: Reports also suggested that KPNLF forces had clashed with Khmer Rouge forces.
Troop Size: 11 000
Secondary Support: For the non-communist members of the CGDK, the US supplied covert non-lethal aid worth 20-24 million US$ for uniforms, vehicles, food and training and overt aid of 5 million US$ for medicine and tents. US also announced a plan to support these factions with 12 000 rifles and other light arms, to strengthen them against both the government of Cambodia and Khmer Rouge.Bangkok-based working groups consisting of representatives from the Thai, Malaysian, and Singaporean governments and help from US military intelligence, were responsible for buying weapons for the non-communist CGDK factions. The arms were paid for by Singapore.The KPNLF leader, Hing Kunthon denied that the group received any support from the US. However, sources within the US acknowledged the support.
1990 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: Khmer Peoples National Liberation Front. Member of the anti-government umbrella organisation CGDK (Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea), and part of the united KPLNLAF (Khmer Peoples National Liberation Armed Forces.)
In February, the chairman of CGDK, Sihanouk, announced that the CGDK should henceforth be referred to as the National Government of Cambodia and he became the President of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge flag and anthem was replaced by the pre-1970 ones.
Comment on Active: In July, the US government announced that it would no longer support the guerrilla coalition Democratic Kampuchea, to hold Cambodias UN seat.
Troop Size: 10 000 - 12 000
Secondary Support: In March, it was announced that China had cancelled delivery of ammunition to KPNLF in an attempt to force the group to more cooperation with the Khmer Rouge. Eventually, the temporary blockade was cancelled.The US supplied the non-communist insurgent groups (FUNCINPEC and KPNLF) with arms, food and medicine worth around 20 million US$
1991 Group Archive
Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea) - KPNLF
Comment on Name: Khmer Peoples National Liberation Front. Member of the anti-government umbrella organisation CGDK (Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea), and part of the united KPLNLAF (Khmer Peoples National Liberation Armed Forces.)
Member of the SNC (Supreme National Council) through its members Son Sann and Ieng Mouly.
After the conflict ended, the KPNLF seized to exist and reformed as the BLDP (Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party), led by Son Sann.
Troop Size: 10 000 - 12 000
