Penn Nouth

Alias : N/A

PENN Nouth (1906-1985) was Prime Minister of the Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea (“GRUNK”). He spent the Democratic Kampuchea period in Phnom Penh until he was escorted to Sisophon in northwestern Cambodia with Norodom Sihanouk in 1979.

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

Key Findings

The Trial Chamber in Case 002/02:

Considered Penn Nouth’s 19 April 1975 statement as evidence. ⁸
Noted that Penn Nouth denied as “grossly exaggerated” the “alleged bloodbath” of “traitors” in Phnom Penh in the aftermath of 17 April 1975, claiming that traitors were incited to flee and were allowed to escape in large numbers. ⁹
Considered the French Foreign Ministry’s report that he had “no clear idea of the events unfolding in Cambodia.” ¹⁰
Accorded no weight to his statement because his capacity to credibly comment on events in Cambodia in the aftermath of 17 April 1975 was limited due to his presence in Beijing. ¹¹

Disclaimer

Penn Nouth 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

1906

Born.¹

1950

1950s-1960s

Served as Prime Minister in various governments under Norodom Sihanouk.²

1975

October

Received an envoy from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam with Khieu Samphan.³

1976

1976-1978

Visited the countryside with Norodom Sihanouk to boost morale of the people and publicly expressing their support for the Khmer Rouge regime.⁴

30 March

Appointed as First Deputy Chairman of the State Presidium by the Central Committee, later replaced by Sao Phim.⁵

1979

1 January

Ordered by Pol Pot to leave and escorted to Sisophon with Norodom Sihanouk and their families.⁶

1985

Died in exile in France.⁷