Hou Youn

Alias : N/A

HOU Youn (1930-1976) was Minister of the Interior, Communal Reforms, and Cooperatives of the Royal Government of the National Union of Kampuchea (“GRUNK”). He was purged from the leading ranks of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (“CPK”) after becoming an outspoken critic of the Party’s decisions.

Explore the Khmer Rouge hierarchy to understand his role in the secretive system.

Key Findings

The Trial Chamber in Case 002/02 found that Hou Youn:

Became an outspoken critic of the CPK’s decisions by 1975, including the decision to evacuate Phnom Penh, and was purged from the CPK’s leading ranks in the coming years. ¹⁰

Disclaimer

Hou Youn was not a suspect, charged person, or accused in any proceedings before the ECCC. Therefore, the findings of the Extraordinary Chambers cannot be equated to findings of guilt against him.

Some information may be sourced from confessions which were obtained under torture. The reliability of such information should be treated with caution. See Decision on Evidence Obtained Through Torture.

Drag

1930

Born.¹

1958

Elected to the National Assembly and became Secretary of State for Planning.²

1960

Appointed by Norodom Sihanouk to the Sangkum government.³

1963

Early March 1963

Named as one of the 34 suspected leftists in a list published by Norodom Sihanouk.⁴

1967

April

Publicly accused by Norodom Sihanouk of fomenting a peasant uprising in Samlaut village, Battambang province, and threatened with a court-martial.⁵

1969

Inducted to CPK by Ta Mok.⁶

1970

5 May

Became Minister of the Interior, Communal Reforms and Cooperatives of the newly formed GRUNK.⁷

1971

September

Attended the Third National Congress as a GRUNK Minister.⁸

1975

By 1975

Became an outspoken critic of the CPK’s decisions, including the decision to evacuate Phnom Penh, and was subsequently purged from the CPK’s leading ranks.⁹