AKP Thbong Khmum, September 11, 2026 --

Senior leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on Friday visited the site of a deadly power struggle with Pol Pot’s forces in Ponhea Kraek district in Kampong Cham province (now Thbong Khmum Province) in 1978.

The intense military clashes involved soldiers loyal to Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, now Honorary President of the CPP and the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King.

In May 1978, Samdech Heng Samrin had just been promoted to the position of Deputy Commander of the Eastern Zone Military Headquarters in the town of Prey Veng. The Eastern Zone covered the provinces of Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng.

The new deputy zone chief had previously commanded the Fourth Division of the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea, based in Memut district in Kampong Cham. 

Visiting the site in Srah village in Popel commune on Friday were Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, former Senate President, and H.E. Sim Ka, former First Vice President of the Senate. Both were soldiers serving under Deputy Zone Commander Heng Samrin in 1978.

They were accompanied by H.E. Vong Sauth, Second Vice President of the National Assembly who was also attached to the Eastern Zone at the time.

"Key leaders and cadres were summoned to attend meetings, and then arrested and sent away to other places, never to return,” H.E. Vong Sauth told delegates as they arrived in Srah, referring to the purge of the Eastern Zone that started in the village.

SIMMERING TENSIONS

In his memoirs, Samdech Heng Samrin recalls driving in two jeeps from Memut to Prey Veng on May 16 to take up his new position as Deputy Commander of the Eastern Zone.

Along the way, he and his bodyguards came across Northern Zone Commander Ke Pauk, and the Commander of the Army’s Seventh Division.

“They were also travelling in two jeeps,” Heng Samrin writes. “We also stopped our vehicles, shook hands and chatted — but with caution. After a while, we shook hands again and said goodbye.”

The new Deputy Zone Commander was in Prey Veng for only nine days when “a deadly power struggle broke out.”

KE PAUK’S PLOY

Ke Pauk had deployed his Northern Zone forces in Srah Village.

“As a ploy to facilitate the arrest of cadres and commanders in eastern Prey Veng, Ke Pauk deceived the heads of the divisions, regiments, battalions and companies by calling an urgent meeting,” Heng Samrin writes.

Regional party secretaries and military chiefs were also invited, along with two divisions and three regiments in the Eastern Zone.

“The plan was to hold the meeting at Srah Reservoir, where there was no temple at the time. When our cadres arrived at the entrance, security guards asked them — regardless of rank — to leave all weapons outside.”

FATAL MEETING

“When everyone entered a meeting room, the security guards surrounded them and pointed guns, arresting all participants,” Heng Samrin later learnt.

“Some regional and district chiefs, who had been suspicious and did not attend the meeting, escaped into the forest to organise and launch a counter-attack.”

WHISPERED WARNING

As for Heng Samrin himself, he was on standby back in Prey Veng town. “I was informed that the meetings were unusual and that none of the partisans had returned. I was getting more suspicious.”

He assigned his courier Kim Phorn to see what was happening on National Road No. 7 and at the regional department in Suong district.

“Along the road were checkpoints and people were not allowed to pass. Kim Phorn tried to approach local people for additional information and fortunately met someone who advised him in a whisper not to go further: things were not good.

“He rushed back and reported the whole situation to me, especially the whispered warning.”

RESISTANCE

On May 26, Heng Samrin drove to O’Reang Ov district in Kampong Cham province, where he met with his boss So Phim — Commander of the Eastern Zone.

The two men returned to Prey Veng to work out a plan to resist Ke Pauk’s forces, defend the town and prepare to evacuate the province. They were joined by Chea Sim, the Party secretary in Ponhea Kraek district (and future CPP President).

The Eastern Zone still had two naval battalions and two armoured personnel carriers. As it turned out, the enemy forces had 12 tanks and helicopter support.

EVACUATION

After several rounds of fierce fighting with Pol Pot’s forces in Kampong Cham, Heng Samrin returned to Prey Veng.

From Kanhchriech district, he ordered cadres and staff from all units — including hospital personnel — to flee Prey Veng town and head east.

It was in Kanhchriech that Heng Samrin received a letter from Kampong Cham. It was from So Phim.

“Dear comrade,” his commander wrote. “Please be highly vigilant and decisive in the cause of resistance until the final drop of blood …” 

UNITED FRONT

By the end of 1978, after months of further fighting, the resistance forces were strong enough to unify under a single front.

Established with Vietnamese assistance in Snoul district in Kratie province on Dec. 2, the 14-member United Front for the National Salvation of Kampuchea was chaired by Heng Samrin.

Other members included Chea Sim and Hun Sen, now President of the CPP, the Senate and the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King. 

Under the united banner of the front and Vietnamese volunteer forces, Phnom Penh was liberated five weeks later on Jan. 7, 1979.

LEGACY

Ke Pauk died in Anlong Veng in Oddar Meanchey province in 2002.

“In May 1978,” Australian historian Ben Kiernan wrote in an obituary, “Pauk’s northern troops began slaughtering the suspect eastern zone administration and population.

“In the largest mass murder in Cambodian history, they murdered more than 100,000 easterners in late 1978.”

(Photo: Sor Sovann)

By Sao Da