Lon Nol

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Lon Nol (November 13, 1913 - November 17, 1985) was a Cambodian politician and former Defence Minister of Cambodia who orchestrated the coup that toppled Prince Norodom Sihanouk on March 18, 1970. Following Sihanouk's exit, American and South Vietnamese forces freely entered Cambodia in their pursuit of Communist units.

Soon the Cambodian Civil War erupted between Nol's government troops and the Khmer Rouge. Soon Nol was forced to ask the Americans for help. On November 18, 1970 US President Richard Nixon responded by asking the United States Congress for US$155 million in supplemental aid for the Cambodian government (US$85 million was for military assistance). Although Nol's government did receive the money it did not stop the Khmer Rouge.

Lon Nol fled into exile in Hawaii when the Communists seized power in Cambodia in 1975.

Some believe that his cruel behaviour is linked to his youth, when he had to defend himself against the treatment of the children in his school, leading him to believe that this was the only way to survive.

See also: Cambodia -- Vietnam War