# Sim Var

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17th Prime Minister of Cambodia

In this [Cambodian name](/source/Cambodian_name), the [surname](/source/Surname) is *Sim*. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the [given name](/source/Given_name), *Var*.

Sim Var ស៊ឹម វ៉ា Prime Minister of Cambodia In office 24 April 1958 – 10 July 1958 Monarch Norodom Suramarit Preceded by Penn Nouth Succeeded by Norodom Sihanouk In office 26 July 1957 – 11 January 1958 Monarch Norodom Suramarit Preceded by Norodom Sihanouk Succeeded by Ek Yi Oun Cambodian Ambassador to Japan In office 1970–1974 Appointed by Lon Nol Succeeded by Koun Wick Minister for Foreign Affairs In office 1957–1958 Succeeded by Penn Nouth Personal details Born 2 February 1906 Kampong Cham, Cambodia, French Indochina Died 12 October 1989 (aged 83)[1] Paris, France Party Democratic Spouse(s) Ma Prakob (m. 1962; div.) Yoko Kawada[2]

**Sim Var** ([Khmer](/source/Khmer_language): ស៊ឹម វ៉ា; 2 February 1906 – 12 October 1989) was a [Cambodian](/source/Cambodia) [politician](/source/Politician). He served as [Prime Minister of Cambodia](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Cambodia) from July 1957 to January 1958 and from April to July 1958. Together with [Chhean Vam](/source/Chhean_Vam) and [Ieu Koeus](/source/Ieu_Koeus), he co-founded the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(Cambodia)) in April 1946. As a nationalist,[2] Var opposed the [French rule](/source/French_protectorate_of_Cambodia) over Cambodia and led opposition movements with other nationalists. He was Cambodia's Ambassador to [Japan](/source/Japan) during the 1970s.[1]

## Background

Sim Var was born in 1906 in the Kompong Cham district of Tbuong Khmom (now [a province](/source/Tbong_Khmum_Province)) to a family of farmers. He was one of the first Cambodian [nationalists](/source/Nationalism). He co-founded the Democratic Party in 1946 alongside fellow nationalists Chhean Vam and Ieu Keous, with the purpose of leading a democratic movement against the French protectorate. He also co-founded the first newspaper in Cambodia in 1939 along with Pach Chheun and [Son Ngoc Thanh](/source/Son_Ngoc_Thanh), known as "Nokor Wat".[1][2]

In February 1947, Var was under arrest along with 16 other Democrats by French authorities over accusations of being a member of a pro-Japanese group that opposes the French rule of Cambodia.[2] He was sent to [Prey Nokor](/source/Ho_Chi_Minh_City) for nine months from March to November 1947 and finally to Kompong Cham until his release in 1948. He became Prime Minister in 1957 and served just under one year until 1958 due to economic issues.[1][2]

In 1962, he married Ma Prakob and gave birth to a son and a daughter. The couple formally divorced years later. He later served as Cambodia's envoy to [Japan](/source/Japan) in the [Lon Nol](/source/Lon_Nol) government and married a Japanese woman there, named Yoko Kawada.[2] Var was believed to be involved in the coup that overthrew [Norodom Sihanouk](/source/Norodom_Sihanouk).[3] He took refuge in [Paris](/source/Paris) during the [Khmer Rouge](/source/Khmer_Rouge) rule of Cambodia until his death on 12 October 1989 at the age of 83.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-3) ["Sim Var, Ex-Cambodian Premier, 85"](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/18/obituaries/sim-var-ex-cambodian-premier-85.html). *The New York Times*. 18 October 1989. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Bio_2-5) ["Sim Var (1906-1989)"](http://www.nationalrescueparty.org/sim-var-1906-1989/). nationalrescueparty.org. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Richie, Rich. ["Yale University Library Research Guides: Cambodian Newspaper Project: I - J"](http://guides.library.yale.edu/content.php?pid=238135&sid=2215715). *guides.library.yale.edu*.

Political offices Preceded by Norodom Sihanouk Prime Minister of Cambodia 1957–1958 Succeeded by Ek Yi Oun Preceded by Penn Nouth Prime Minister of Cambodia 1958 Succeeded by Norodom Sihanouk

v t e Prime ministers of Cambodia (list) Kingdom of Kampuchea (1945) Norodom Sihanouk Son Ngoc Thanh French Protectorate (1945–1953) Sisowath Monireth Sisowath Youtevong Sisowath Watchayavong Chhean Vam Penn Nouth Yem Sambaur Norodom Sihanouk Sisowath Monipong Oum Chheang Sun Huy Kanthoul Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970) Penn Nouth Chan Nak Norodom Sihanouk Leng Ngeth Khim Tit San Yun Sim Var Ek Yi Oun Pho Proeung Nhiek Tioulong* Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum* Norodom Kantol Lon Nol Son Sann Khmer Republic (1970–1975) Lon Nol Sisowath Sirik Matak Son Ngoc Thanh Hang Thun Hak In Tam Long Boret Democratic Kampuchea (1975–1979) Penn Nouth Khieu Samphan* Nuon Chea* Pol Pot People's Republic of Kampuchea and State of Cambodia (1979–1993) Pen Sovan Chan Sy Hun Sen Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present) Norodom Ranariddh Ung Huot Hun Sen Hun Manet *acting

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sim Var](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim_Var) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim_Var?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.