General information
Part of Conflict: Cambodia (Kampuchea): Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1978-12-02
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The Kampuchean National United Front for National Salvation (KNUFNS) was formed on 2 December 1978 in the Kratie province in Kampuchea. The group consisted of, reportedly, more than 200 opponents of the Khmer Rouge regime and was heavily supported by Vietnam. The meeting resulted in the creation of a central committee consisting of 14 members, with Heng Samrin, who had recently defected from the Khmer Rouge, as president.
The goal of the organisation was stated in an 11-point programme that included overthrowing the Pol Pot regime, holding general elections and adopting a new constitution. A Revolutionary Army was also going to be formed. Other stated goals were to establish a socialistic state that would conduct a peaceful foreign policy. The banking system and currency was going to be re-introduced. Forced labour and communal eating would be abolished.
Date of first use of armed force: 1978-12-09
Comment on date of first use of armed force: It is not clear when the KNUFNS used armed force for the first time, according to the group’s own news agency, an uprising had taken place in the Prey Veng province (located in the southern parts of the country) on 9 December 1978.
First Battle Related Death: 1978-12-29
Comment on First Battle Related Death: It is not clear when the first battle-related death took place in the dyad between government and KNUFNS. According to the group’s own news agency, an uprising had taken place in the Prey Veng province (located in the southern parts of the country) on 9 December 1978, the statement did however not mention any specific battle-related deaths. On 30 December, heavy clashes were reported. Due to the lack of reliable information regarding what happened earlier in December, the date of the first battle-related death is only set to December 1978.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1978-12-30
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: On 30 December 1978 KNUFNS’s radio station “Voice of the Cambodian People” announced that their armed forces had liberated parts of the Ratanakiri province (located in the north-eastern parts of the country). On 1 January 1979 the radio station stated that hundreds of Khmer Rouge troops had been killed or captured on 30 December 1978 when the revolutionary forces had taken over the town of Kratie (located in the Kratie province in the eastern parts of the country). It is likely that the conflict reached 25 battle related deaths earlier than this date.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1978
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1000 |
| Best | 1000 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea)): n/a
Side B (KNUFNS): Government of Vietnam (North Vietnam)
1979
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea)): n/a
Side B (KNUFNS): Government of Vietnam (North Vietnam)
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1978 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 1000 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1979 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this dyad is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Comment on Active: The KNUFNS and the Vietnamese troops continued the offensive launched on 25 December 1978 and on 6 January 1979 the capital was surrounded. After almost no fighting, the KNUFNS and the Vietnamese troops announced that they had taken full control over Phnom-Penh.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: YES
Victorious side: B
Comment on Victory: The KNUFNS and the Vietnamese troops continued the offensive launched on 25 December 1978 and on 6 January 1979 the capital was surrounded. After almost no fighting, the KNUFNS and the Vietnamese troops announced that they had taken full control over Phnom-Penh. A People’s Revolutionary Council, lead by Heng Samrin (leader of the KNUFNS) was formed as a provisional government on 8 January 1979. Shortly afterwards, the new government was recognized by Vietnam, Laos and the Soviet Union.
Comment on Victorious Side: Kampuchean National United Front for National Salvation (KNUFNS).
Comment on Total Battle Related Deaths: Kampuchean National United Front for National Salvation (KNUFNS).
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 1979-01-07
Comment on Termination: With the help of Vietnamese troops, KNUFNS ousted the Khmer Rouge from power in early 1979 and formed a new government.
