In June 1960, following the referendum, Sihanouk assumed the post of head of state, leaving the monarchy, personified by the queen mother, to exist. Until 1970 he continued to dominate the Cambodian scene, drawing inspiration from a mixture of authoritarianism, paternalism, Buddhism and socialism and relying on the “Sengkum Reastr Niyum” (People’s Socialist Community), a political concentration he created in which the most advanced elements converged. of the traditional aristocracy and the new bourgeoisie, of French cultural formation. The Sengkum won a very large majority in the elections of 1955, 1958, 1962, 1966. The extra-parliamentary opposition was mainly represented by a communist-inspired movement, the “Khmer Issarak”.
According to ask4beauty, while inside Sihanouk pursued a vaguely socialist but anti-communist policy, in foreign policy he struggled, amid growing difficulties caused by the spread of the war in Vietnam and Laos, in order to obtain the recognition of Cambodian neutrality.
In 1961 he succeeded in having a conference convened in Geneva for the neutralization of Laos; but the request repeatedly made in 1962, 1963, 1964 to extend neutrality to Cambodia was rejected. At first, Cambodian neutralism was aimed at safeguarding the regime no less from communism than from the extension of the conflict and from the territorial claims of the secular enemies of Cambodia, Thailand and southern Vietnam; but after the overthrow of Diem and the ever more open American intervention, Sihanouk oriented his neutralism in a pro-Chinese sense. In 1963 he gave up on American aid. In Oct 1964, when he went to Beijing for the anniversary of the republic, he had talks with the representatives of Vietnam and North Korea, the FLN, the Pathet Lao as well as with the Chinese leaders. The new orientation met with growing opposition among the strong anti-communist Sengkum right. This succeeded in October 1966 to appoint one of its men as prime minister, gen. Lon Nol. At first Sihanouk tried to resist. In May 1967 he resigned Lon Nol, assuming the direction of an emergency government and then (Jan 1968) giving it to his man, Penn Nouth; but the influence of Lon Nol who, with American support, continued to be part of successive governments, further increased. Sihanouk himself, seeing a growing American commitment to Indochina and worried about the ignition of outbreaks of communist guerrillas in Battabambang, the infiltration of the Viet Cong and the right claimed by the Americans to pursue them when they took refuge in Cambodian territory, he tried to correct the pro-Chinese accentuation of his policy, abandoning economic autarchy and re-establishing diplomatic relations with the United States in June 1969. But the right wing of the Sengkum, which emerged strengthened from the 1966 elections, again designated Lon Nol as prime minister in August 1969; and the latter on March 18, 1970 declared him deposed, having Cheng Heng appointed head of state and assuming power together with Sirik Matak, a prince cousin of Sihanouk. On 9 October the republic was proclaimed, of which Lon Nol was elected president in March 1972. August 1969 Lon Nol as prime minister; and the latter on March 18, 1970 declared him deposed, having Cheng Heng appointed head of state and assuming power together with Sirik Matak, a prince cousin of Sihanouk. On 9 October the republic was proclaimed, of which Lon Nol was elected president in March 1972. August 1969 Lon Nol as prime minister; and the latter on March 18, 1970 declared him deposed, having Cheng Heng appointed head of state and assuming power together with Sirik Matak, a prince cousin of Sihanouk. On 9 October the republic was proclaimed, of which Lon Nol was elected president in March 1972.
While the new regime took a distinctly pro-American attitude, obtaining military aid and South Vietnamese armed support, Sihanouk on March 23 launched an appeal for armed resistance, announcing the establishment of a United National Front (FUNK) and subsequently of a Union Government National (GRUNK), recognized immediately by Beijing and in October 1972 by Moscow. In May-June 1970 the Americans entered Cambodia in force to defeat the Khmer Rouge; but these, the Americans withdrew, resumed the victorious offensive. In the years 1971-74, despite the sending of American weapons and instructors and the intervention of South Vietnamese units and the American air force, the situation of Lon Nol became increasingly difficult. As the slow progress of the red guerrillas continued, his regime was weakened internally by partisan conflicts, which led to the dissolution of the National Assembly in September 1974. In early January 1975, the Khmer Rouge, supported by units in North Vietnam and the FLN, launched the final offensive. On 10 April Lon Nol left the country and on 17 the victorious guerrillas occupied the capital. A new republican constitution was launched in January 1976, Sihanouk resigned as head of state in April, while a National Assembly immediately brought Defense Minister Khieu Samphan to the presidency. On 10 April Lon Nol left the country and on 17 the victorious guerrillas occupied the capital. A new republican constitution was launched in January 1976, Sihanouk resigned as head of state in April, while a National Assembly immediately brought Defense Minister Khieu Samphan to the presidency. On 10 April Lon Nol left the country and on 17 the victorious guerrillas occupied the capital. A new republican constitution was launched in January 1976, Sihanouk resigned as head of state in April, while a National Assembly immediately brought Defense Minister Khieu Samphan to the presidency.
