Samdech Borvor Setha Thipadei, aka Son Sann Son Sann was a well-known politician and leader in Cambodia. Son was nurtured in his nation’s capital and was born to ethnic Khmer parents from the nearby country of Vietnam. Because of the prominence of his father’s position in the government, he had a privileged upbringing. After that, the little boy was transported to Paris to finish his studies. After becoming fluent in two European languages, he returned to his native country and found employment with the colonial government there. After his country gained independence, Sann’s career took off and he quickly rose to a high status in public service. He took advantage of his position of privilege by using his training and experience to get nominated as the head of his nation’s central bank. However, a revolution caused things to turn around, and he was forced to seek refuge in other nations. The emerging leader negotiated to find a peaceful solution for his country, but in the end, chose to form an armed resistance force. Sann was appointed to a coveted leadership position when his accomplices overthrew the government. He held the position of secular supremacy in his nation for ten years before resigning and becoming a successful candidate for opposition representation in parliament. The distinguished politician then took his final overseas move before retiring from politics. National leaders honored Sann as a national hero as he peacefully passed away in his bed.
Early Childhood & Life
Son Sann was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on October 5, 1911. Although they were both of Khmer descent, his parents were Vietnamese immigrants from Tra Vinh Province.
In Phnom Penh, he finished both his elementary and secondary studies. He relocated to Paris, France in 1929 to start his studies there.
Sann earned his degree from the “Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” in 1933.
Son Sann’s Career
Sann relocated to London the following year, in 1934. He picked up English throughout this time.
In 1935, after spending a year in London, he went back to Cambodia. He was assigned a position as a trade representative for the French colonial government and worked in the provinces of Prey Veng and Battambang.
He was chosen to be a part of a significant Cambodian commercial trip to Tokyo, Japan, in 1941.
In 1946, Sann received a promotion to the position of vice president of the Council of Ministers. He eventually received a promotion to Finance Minister. He adjusted to the role very quickly.
He received a promotion to Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia in 1947. He established the “Democratic Party” in the same year. It gained notoriety quite rapidly.
He was chosen to serve as Cambodia’s foreign minister in 1950. He worked to strengthen international and regional ties.
Sann joined the royalist “Sangkum” political party in 1955. Cambodia gained its independence from France that same year.
In 1964, he was named Governor of the “National Bank of Cambodia.” He earned appreciation for his hard effort.
After a coup in Cambodia in 1970, Son was put under house imprisonment. Later, he made his way to China, where he sought to negotiate a settlement for his own country.
Lon Nol was elected president of the Khmer Republic in Cambodia in 1972 after the premier of China disapproved of his discussions.
The Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia in 1975. When Sann was residing in Paris, France, he started planning a resistance movement.
He established the “Khmer People’s National Liberation Front” (KPNLF) in 1979 to fight against the invading Vietnamese army and the Cambodian government.
The KPNLF and a royalist party formed a coalition government in 1982. The well-liked figurehead was chosen as the nation’s prime minister. For the ensuing nine years, he served in this capacity.
He took part in the talks in 1991 that led to the conclusion of the civil war in his country. The nationalist leader made an effort to mend and unite his nation.
He established the “Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party” in 1992. (BLDP). It quickly attained a prominent position.
Sann was chosen to serve in the National Assembly, a branch of parliament, in 1993 thanks to the BLDP’s strong performance in the polls. He was elected President of the National Assembly later that year.
He left politics in 1997 and relocated to Paris, France. He started to steadily deteriorate into a protracted illness.
Son’s Bigger Works
Son Sann held a variety of important government roles in Cambodia, including two terms as Prime Minister. He put into place a number of innovative social measures as the country’s prime minister to modernize it. Additionally, he established crucial links between major world powers like the United States and regional countries like China and Vietnam.
Personal Legacy & Life
The spouse of Son Sann was Nema Toula Macchwa. They had seven kids together. The distinguished political figure passed away from heart failure in 2000.
Son Sann was described as a “son of the nation and a hero of the Cambodian motherland” by the King of Cambodia when he passed away.
Son Robert, one of his kids, has formal archeological training. The political figure spent his entire life as a devoted Buddhist.
Estimated Net Worth
Son is among the wealthiest and most well-liked politicians. Son Sann is worth $5 million, per our analysis of data from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
This well-known figure claimed to Pope John Paul II in 1983 that he had never carried a gun in his life and that he followed the Buddhist principle of respect for all living things while organizing armed resistance activities.