{{Short description|Cambodian politician (born 1951)}} {{Family name hatnote|lang=Cambodian|Sar|Kheng}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Samdech Kralahom | name = Sar Kheng | native_name = {{nobold|ស ខេង}} | honorific_suffix = MP PC | image = Sar Kheng at Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London on 11 October 2018 - (30307142787) (cropped).jpg | office = Minister of Interior | deputy = | term_start = 3 February 1992 | term_end = 22 August 2023 | 1blankname = Co-Minister | 1namedata = You Hockry (1993–2004)<br />Norodom Sirivudh (2004–2006) | prime_minister = Hun Sen<br>Norodom Ranariddh<br>Ung Huot | predecessor = | successor = Sar Sokha | office1 = Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia | term_start1 = 3 February 1992 | term_end1 = 22 August 2023 | prime_minister1 = Hun Sen<br />Norodom Ranariddh<br />Ung Huot | office2 = Vice President of the Cambodian People's Party | term_start2 = 20 June 2015 | term_end2 = | president2 = Hun Sen | 1blankname2 = Serving with | 1namedata2 = Say Chhum<br />Tea Banh<br />Men Sam An<br />Hun Manet | predecessor2 = Hun Sen | office3 = Majority Leader of the National Assembly | prime_minister3 = Hun Sen | term_start3 = 22 January 2015 | term_end3 = 31 January 2017 | predecessor3 = Position established | successor3 = Position abolished | office4 = Member of Parliament<br>for Battambang | constituency4 = | term_start4 = 14 June 1993 | term_end4 = | majority4 = | office5 = Chairman of National Committee for Counter Trafficking in Person, Cambodia<ref>{{cite web|title=Busts on human trafficking doublen|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/busts-human-trafficking-double|accessdate=12 July 2017}}</ref> | term_start5 = 2009 | term_end5 = 22 August 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|1|15|df=y}} | birth_place = Prey Veng, Cambodia, French Indochina | death_place = | party = Cambodian People's Party | spouse = Nhem Sakhan<ref name=NCDD>{{cite web|title=ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ស ខេង ធ្វើពិធីសូត្រនិមន្តបង្សុកូល និងរាប់បាត្រព្រះសង្ឃ ក្នុងឱកាសចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី|url=http://www.ncdd.gov.kh/km/media-center/media-coverage/online-media/1008-traditional-khmer-ceremony-for-khmer-new-year-at-moi|website=The National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development|publisher=Government of Cambodia|accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> | alma_mater = | children = 3, including Sar Sokha | profession = | signature = | website = | branch = | service_years = | unit = | caption = Kheng in 2018 | native_name_lang = km }} {{Contains special characters|Khmer}} '''Sar Kheng''' ({{langx|km|ស ខេង}}; born 15 January 1951) is a Cambodian politician. He is the vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and served as Minister of the Interior and deputy prime minister from 1992 to 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo 8. H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister Cambodia, and Vice-Minister of MIC Japan|url=http://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/meetings/cambodia/center25.htm|work=stat.go.jp|accessdate=4 January 2011}}</ref> He also represents the province of Battambang in the Cambodian Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|title=MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Fifth Legislature (2013–2018)|url=http://www.cambodianembassy.org.uk/index_main075d.html?lang=&mcat=2&menu=9&k=1|website=Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the United Kingdom|accessdate=29 November 2015}}</ref> Kheng has been the Minister of the Interior since 1992. Until March 2006, he shared the position with FUNCINPEC party member You Hockry as co-Ministers of the Interior, but then became sole interior minister in a cabinet reshuffle as FUNCINPEC ended its coalition with the CPP. He left office as interior minister in 2023 and was succeeded by his son, Sar Sokha.
==Biography==
=== A Cambodian child in the ''Sangkum'' === Sar Kheng was born on January 15, 1951, during the ''Sangkum'' in Ang Daung Saat Village, Krabau Township, Kamchay Mear District, Prey Veng Province. He was born into a peasant family.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jennar |first=Raoul Marc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bnJuAAAAMAAJ&q=sar+kheng+les+cles+du+cambodge |title=Les clés du Cambodge |date=1995 |publisher=Maisonneuve et Larose |isbn=978-2-7068-1150-0 |pages=252 |language=fr}}</ref>
=== From guerilla warfare to leader of the Kampuchea === Along with Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, and Hun Sen, Sar Kheng was among the Democratic Kampuchea cadres of the Eastern Zone.<ref>{{Cite book |last=François |first=Im |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bcwWAQAAIAAJ&q=sar+kheng+%22prey+veng%22 |title=La question cambodgienne dans les relations internationales de 1979 à 1993 |date=2005 |publisher=ANRT. Atelier national de reproduction des thèses de Lille |isbn=978-2-284-04906-7 |pages=50 |language=fr}}</ref> However, after commander of the Eastern Zone Sar Phim<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Oeur |first1=U. Sam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HltuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22sar+phim%22 |title=Crossing Three Wildernesses: A Memoir |last2=McCullough |first2=Ken |date=2005 |publisher=Coffee House Press |isbn=978-1-56689-167-7 |pages=207 |language=en}}</ref> was assassinated, Sar Kheng, Hun Sen, and other leaders who refused the purges of the Cambodian genocide went into the opposition against the Khmers Rouges.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vandy |first=Kaonn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4NuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22sar+phim%22 |title=Cambodge 1940-1991, ou, La politique sans les Cambodgiens: essai |date=1993 |publisher=L'Harmattan |isbn=978-2-7384-1925-5 |pages=139 |language=fr}}</ref> The ties and friendships made at that time have lasted and still continue to determine Cambodian politics. Since they fled to Vietnam, they have been accused of being pro-Vietnamese. After the Vietnamese troops entered Cambodia and pushed back the Khmers Rouge to the North West provinces, Kheng, along with his brother-in-law Chea Sim, took on leadership positions in national security and were identified as "hard-liners" in the People's Republic of Kampuchea government, fighting to eradicate the Khmer Rouge from Cambodia.<ref name="Eng">{{cite journal |last1=Eng |first1=Peter |date=1998 |title=Cambodian democracy: In a bleak landscape, strong signs of hope |journal=Washington Quarterly |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=71–91 |doi=10.1080/01636609809550333}}</ref> As leaders in the one-party state controlled by the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (the former name of the CPP), they were accused of operating "a police state". Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams described governmental policies that included imprisonment without trial and torture of political activists.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 June 2015 |title=Cambodia: Chea Sim Death Shows Failings of Khmer Rouge Court |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/06/08/cambodia-chea-sim-death-shows-failings-khmer-rouge-court |accessdate=9 June 2015 |website=Human Rights Watch}}</ref>
=== ''Coup'' after ''coup'' towards democracy after the return of the monarchy === Kheng became the Minister of Interior in 1992 during the UN protectorate period overseeing the State of Cambodia's transition to the Kingdom of Cambodia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Politik (Politics) |url=http://www.welt-auf-einen-blick.de/politik/exekutive.php |accessdate=29 November 2015 |website=der Welt auf einen Blick (World at a Glance) |language=German}}</ref> During this time, the CPP formed a coalition with its main rival, Prince Norodom Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC party. As a result of this arrangement, each party appointed members to "share" higher offices.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mehta, Harish C. |title=Warrior Prince: Norodom Ranariddh, Son of King Sihanouk of Cambodia |publisher=Graham Brash |year=2001 |isbn=9812180869 |location=Singapore}}</ref> Within the CPP, Kheng is its Vice President and a standing member of its Central Committee,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeang |first1=Socheametta |date=14 June 2015 |title=លោក ស ខេង និងលោក សាយ ឈុំ ទទួលគោរមងារជា "សម្ដេច" |language=Khmer |work=VOA Khmer |url=http://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/2cpp-high-ranking-officials-received-new-title-as-samdach-06142015023250.html |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> the body responsible for all core decision making.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Elizabeth |date=2014 |title=Corruption, Violence and Gender: A critical look at police behaviour and a path to reform in Cambodia |url=http://kh.boell.org/sites/default/files/hbs_broschure_cvg_a5_rz-klein.pdf |journal=International Political Science Association |pages=19–20 |accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref>
==== 1994 coup: surviving the failed attempt of Chakrapong and Sin Song ==== A schism slowly developed in the CPP with Hun Sen and his supporters who would hold on to power at all costs on one side and the more moderate Kheng, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin on the other.<ref name="Guo">{{cite book |last1=Guo |first1=Sujian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7A8ep7V7MvkC&q=sar+kheng+1989&pg=PA70 |title=The Political Economy of Asian Transition from Communism |date=2006 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=0754647358 |page=70 |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> Hun Sen, who had control and support of the military and National Police emerged as the undisputed leader. His suspicion of Kheng was such that during an aborted coup attempt led by Prince Norodom Chakrapong in 1994, Hun Sen totally bypassed the Ministry of the Interior in his response, not notifying Kheng of troop mobilization or movements until the whole episode had already ended.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Um |first1=Khatharya |date=1995 |title=Cambodia in 1994: the year of transition |journal=Asian Survey |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=76–83 |doi=10.2307/2645133 |jstor=2645133}}</ref> Sar Kheng was particularly opposed to the tactics behind the coup as they only reinforced the political position of the Khmer Rouge by perpetuating political instability in Cambodia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Widyono |first=Benny |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jR9tAAAAQBAJ&q=sar+kheng+&pg=PA173 |title=Dancing in Shadows: Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge, and the United Nations in Cambodia |date=2007-10-23 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-0-7425-7618-6 |pages=227 |language=en}}</ref>
==== 1997 coup: refusing a violent response ==== {{Main|1997 Cambodian coup d'état}} Three years later, while planning the 1997 coup to oust his popular co-Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Hun Sen personally confronted Kheng to ensure his loyalty and support for the use of force.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peou |first1=Sorpong |date=1998 |title=Hun Sen's Pre-emptive Coup: Causes and Consequences |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |pages=86–102 |doi=10.1355/SEAA98G|doi-broken-date=1 July 2025 }}</ref> Sar Kheng warned Hun Sen against the use of violence and said that he would refuse to take part in a coup.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peou |first=Sorpong |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWtKpRaeCWUC&dq=sar+kheng+%22prey+veng%22&pg=PA302 |title=Intervention & Change in Cambodia: Towards Democracy? |date=2000 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian |pages=302 |language=en}}</ref> Further, Kheng could do nothing to reign in Hok Lundy, the head of the National Police force and close confidant of Hun Sen, who was accused of crimes and abuses of power ranging from human trafficking and drug smuggling to the murder of political opponents even though Lundy was under the authority of the Interior Ministry.<ref name="Guo" /><ref>{{cite web |title=CAMBODIA: Revelations of former police chief must be followed with investigations and suspensions |url=http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AS-202-2006 |accessdate=8 November 2015 |publisher=Asian Human Rights Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=R. Jeffrey |date=18 April 2007 |title=Controversial Cambodian to Visit U.S |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041701771.html?nav=rss_nation/special |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref>
By the late 1990s, Kheng's name was often floated by Western observers as a possible party "reformer".<ref name="Eng" />
=== Growing stronger after the loss of the FUNCINPEC === Since 1992, Kheng and FUNCINPEC member You Hockry were ruling as co-Ministers of the Interior. This arrangement lasted until the Senate elections of 2006, when FUNCINPEC, which lost many seats while Ranariddh left to form his own party, dissolved the coalition and allied with Sam Rainsy's opposition movement. You Hockry, who chose to follow Ranariddh, was dismissed and Prince Norodom Sirivudh was made co-minister with Kheng. However, Sirivudh was soon also dismissed, leaving Kheng as the sole Minister of the Interior.<ref>{{cite book |author=Widyono, Benny |title=Dancing in Shadows: Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge, and the United Nations in Cambodia |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2008 |isbn=978-0742555532 |location=Lanham, Maryland, United States of America |page=277}}</ref> Since this loss, Sar Kheng has been able to grow stronger and rein in any serious political opposition.
In September 2015, he warned the authorities of Sihanoukville whom he suspected of taking bribes in return for allowing illegal fishing and smuggling activities off the coast.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chhay |first1=Channyda |date=8 September 2015 |title=Kheng warns brass on coast |work=The Phnom Penh Post |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kheng-warns-brass-coast |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref>
After Sar Kheng downturned offers of inclusion by the Cambodia National Reform Party in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kijewski |first1=Leonie |last2=Koemsoeun |first2=Soth |title=Sar Kheng downs offer of inclusion into CNRP |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sar-kheng-downs-offer-inclusion-cnrp |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Phnom Penh Post |language=en}}</ref> Sam Rainsy directed "revenge claims" against Sar Kheng.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chheng |first=Niem |date=2019-07-08 |title=Sar Kheng sues Rainsy for $1M over 'revenge' claims |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/sar-kheng-sues-rainsy-1m-over-revenge-claims |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Phnom Penh Post |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Sar Kheng sued Sam Rainsy for his allegations that he had been colluding with Dy Vichea against Hun Sen, accusations which he considered "fake news and incitements".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chheng |first=Niem |date=2019-07-09 |title=Sar Kheng: Lawsuit is defence of dignity, morality and virtue |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/sar-kheng-lawsuit-defence-dignity-morality-and-virtue |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Phnom Penh Post |language=en}}</ref>
== Politics ==
=== ''Orkun santheipheap:'' balancing public order and personal freedom === Since coming to power in 1992, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng has overseen the transition to democracy. While some have applauded the longest period of political stability since the Cambodian Civil War and Kheng's efforts to fight against corruption and drug trafficking,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Forest |first=Alain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ufZAAAAMAAJ&q=sar+kheng+ |title=Cambodge contemporain |date=2008 |publisher=Indes savantes |isbn=978-2-84654-193-0 |pages=463 |language=fr}}</ref> others have been critical of the suppression of political opponents such as CNRP deputy leader, Kem Sokha.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 June 1987 |title=Cambodia is Said to Torture Prisoners |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8013822.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611063352/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8013822.html |archive-date=11 June 2014 |accessdate=4 November 2015 |publisher=HighBeam Research |newspaper=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 June 1987 |title=Cambodia Criticizes Amnesty International Report |work=Associated Press News |url=https://apnews.com/619e25a700c5ec2e46e3dfc2438227bb |accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Alex Willemyns |title=Opposition's Demand for TV Access Crucial, Futile – The Cambodia Daily |url=http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/oppositions-demand-for-tv-access-crucial-futile-44423/ |accessdate=4 November 2015 |work=The Cambodia Daily}}</ref><ref name="PPP">{{cite news |date=30 October 2015 |title=Sokha stripped of National Assembly vice presidency |work=The Phnom Penh Post |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sokha-stripped-national-assembly-vice-presidency |accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref> Kheng continues to attempt to be a mediating force in Cambodia politics. In September 2015, Kheng announced the formation of a seven-person police commission to investigate the 2013 death threats made by CPP Interior Ministry official Lieutenant Colonel Pheng Vannak against CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha. The investigation has resulted in Kheng removing Vannak from his position.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 October 2015 |title=Sokha threat investigation in works |work=The Phnom Penh Post |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sokha-threat-investigation-works |accessdate=8 November 2015}}</ref> After the October 2015 attacks on opposition CNRP lawmakers by pro-CPP demonstrators, Kheng conducted informal meetings with CNRP leader Sam Rainsy in an attempt to "restore a working relationship" between the two parties and quell the tension.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neou |first1=Vannarin |date=5 November 2015 |title=Hun Sen Distances Ruling Party From Attacks on Opposition |work=VOA News |agency=Voice of America |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/hun-sen-distance-rulinng-party-from-attacks-on-opposition/3041544.html |access-date=8 November 2015}}</ref> This politics of stability has been summarized in the slogan which begins with a leitmotiv of CPP: ''orkun santheipheap'' (Khmer: អរគុណសន្តិភាព), which translates as "thanks be for peace".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-02 |title=ពាក្យ «អរគុណសន្តិភាព!» ត្រូវបានបិទតាមសាលារៀន មណ្ឌលសុខភាព មូលដ្ឋានកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថ និងសាលាក្រុងតាមបណ្តាខេត្តស្ទើរទូទាំងប្រទេស |url=https://khmerpostasia.com/archives/42961 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=ខ្មែរប៉ុស្ដិ៍ |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Honors and recognitions== On June 14, 2015, King Norodom Sihamoni awarded Kheng the honorary title of ''Samdech''. His official title is "Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng" ({{lang|km|សម្ដេចក្រឡាហោម ស ខេង}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title='Samdech' titles given to Chhum and Kheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/samdech-titles-given-chhum-and-kheng}}</ref>
==Family== Kheng is married to Nhem Sakhan with whom he has three children.<ref name="NCDD" /> Through matrimonial alliances, Kheng is part of an intricate network of powerful Cambodian families.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Forest |first=Alain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ufZAAAAMAAJ&q=sar+kheng+ |title=Cambodge contemporain |date=2008 |publisher=Indes savantes |isbn=978-2-84654-193-0 |pages=185 |language=fr}}</ref> Kheng is also brother-in-law to former president of the Cambodian National Assembly Chea Sim,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Heder |first1=Steve |date=2015 |title=Cambodia: Capitalist Transformation by Neither Liberal Democracy Nor Dictatorship |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |volume=2012 |issue=1}}</ref> who was CPP president until his death in 2015. His son Sar Sokha is married to Ke Kuon Sophy, the daughter of General Ke Kim Yan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Strangio |first=Sebastian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s-2uBAAAQBAJ&dq=sar+kheng+%22prey+veng%22&pg=PA73 |title=Hun Sen's Cambodia |date=2014-11-28 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-21014-9 |pages=73 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== *Kheng, Sar. "Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance." Workshop on the Medium Term Vision for the SEILA Program: 2000–2003. *Kheng, Sar. "Thematic Paper of the Deputy Prime Minister Sar Keng at the National Symposium on Decentralization and Local Governance on 15–16 May 2002.". National Symposium on Decentralization and Local Governance. *Kheng, HE Sar. "Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Minister of Interior (October 1999)." Closing Speech, Ministry of Interior Workshop on the Maintenance of Security and Social Order, Phnom Penh. Vol. 22. 1999.
==External links== {{commons category|Sar Kheng}} *[http://www.interior.gov.kh/ Cambodian Ministry of the Interior] (Khmer) *[http://www.ncct.gov.kh/ National Committee for Counter Trafficking] (Khmer) {{Cabinet of Cambodia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sar, Kheng}} Category:1951 births Category:20th-century Cambodian politicians Category:21st-century Cambodian politicians Category:Living people Category:Cambodian People's Party politicians Category:Deputy prime ministers of Cambodia Category:Government ministers of Cambodia Category:Interior ministers of Cambodia Category:Members of the National Assembly (Cambodia) Category:Cambodian Theravada Buddhists Category:People from Prey Veng province