Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 28 – As Cambodia marks the 26th anniversary of Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s historic Win-Win Policy on 29 December 2024, new details about a dark chapter in Khmer Rouge history have come to light.
In an exclusive interview with Lim Chea Vutha, Chief Executive Officer of Fresh News Media, Samdech Techo Hun Sen disclosed the truth behind the anonymous letter that led Pol Pot to order the execution of Son Sen and his entire family in 1997.
The revelation stems from an infamous interview conducted in the late 1990s by American journalist Nate Thayer, during which Pol Pot reflected on his decision. Pol Pot reportedly said, “Son Sen was a loyal friend to me, but in January 1997, I intercepted three anonymous letters sent from Kampong Thom province, an area under the influence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the time...”
These letters, which sowed doubt and paranoia within Pol Pot’s inner circle, pushed the Khmer Rouge leader to commit a heinous act. On the night of 9 June 1997, Pol Pot ordered 30 soldiers to brutally kill Son Sen, his wife Yun Yat, and their entire family in Anlong Veng.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen revealed that the anonymous letters were part of a deliberate strategy under the DIFID (Divide, Isolate, Finish, Integrate, Develop) framework, designed to dismantle the Khmer Rouge from within. By exploiting internal divisions and paranoia, this tactic ultimately contributed to the regime’s collapse.
The aftermath of Son Sen’s murder set off a chain reaction. The Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok turned against Pol Pot, placing him under house arrest—a pivotal moment that further fragmented the organization.
As the nation celebrates the anniversary of this landmark policy, the revelation underscores the complexities and sacrifices behind Cambodia’s hard-won peace.
Reflecting on the tragedy and the strategy’s role in Cambodia’s path to peace, Samdech Techo Hun Sen emphasized the necessity of such measures to dismantle the Khmer Rouge’s brutal reign. The Win-Win Policy, implemented shortly after, ensured the complete disintegration of the regime and ushered in an era of stability and reconciliation for Cambodia.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen confirmed the authenticity of the infamous letters, saying: “The letter is indeed my letter. I wrote it. It has the correct letterhead, but it does not specify who it is addressed to. It was written to Uncle Po, simply to inquire about his well-being, and it was delivered through Ke Pok’s son. I wrote only two letters, but I do not know who authored the third letter.”
Ke Pok, a former Khmer Rouge commander and once an aide to Pol Pot, played a critical covert role during this period. Originally from Kampong Thom province, Ke Pok later served as a secret intelligence asset for Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
Samdech Techo continued, “While it remains unconfirmed that Ke Pok was officially Hun Sen’s spy, he worked for me. […] Ke Pok’s son often visited my home, acting as a messenger. Ke Pok eventually defected from the Khmer Rouge and met me during a pivotal meeting at Olympic Stadium in 1997.”
Samdech Techo Hun Sen further detailed the strategic measures taken to destabilize the Khmer Rouge: “At the same time, we appointed Ni Kan and Son Chhum, the brothers of Son Sen, as advisors to the Ministry of National Defence, both holding the rank of Major General. We also positioned ‘Chon,’ Yun Yat’s younger brother and Son Sen’s brother-in-law, in Kampong Thom province, particularly around Prasat Ballang. His role was to act as a relay station for communications to Anlong Veng.”
Yun Yat, the wife of Son Sen, also known as Comrade “At,” held a significant role in the Democratic Kampuchea regime. As a senior member of the Communist Party of Kampuchea’s Standing Committee, she was responsible for overseeing information and education, both domestically and internationally.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen reflected on the implementation of the DIFID strategy, which was designed to dismantle the Khmer Rouge’s last stronghold in Anlong Veng. He also revealed details about the deliberate leaking of the letter that reached Pol Pot:
“The letter I wrote had the correct letterhead, but it wasn’t addressed to anyone by name—it was simply sent to ‘Uncle’ as a greeting. That was part of the DIFID strategy. The first letter was sent in late 1996, and the second in 1997, just before the outbreak of war in Phnom Penh. My goal was to finish things in Anlong Veng by 1997, but I didn’t anticipate the war in Phnom Penh. So, we decided to use this letter, instructing Ke Pok’s son to collect it in person, knowing it would leak in Anlong Veng. They had no idea where the letter originated.”
Samdech Techo Hun Sen explained that this manoeuvre, while deceptive, was a calculated effort to “break the enemy’s machine gun.” He emphasized the role of Ke Pok, a former Khmer Rouge commander, who operated covertly as part of Hun Sen’s intelligence network.
The anonymous letter further fuelled Pol Pot’s deepening suspicion of Son Sen, compounded by reports of a personal connection between Son Sen and Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen highlighted the nature of their interactions, saying:
“When Son Sen came to Phnom Penh in 1992, it was evident that Son Sen was very close to me. Since the SNC (Supreme National Council) meeting in Bangkok in 1991, and in subsequent meetings, Son Sen consistently engaged in conversations with me. The most notable instance occurred at the World Hotel 1, the Cambodian state guest house. When I visited Son Sen there, we hugged and talked for nearly two hours. Nobody knows what we discussed, but that moment alone could have raised suspicions about Son Sen. This, combined with the anonymous letter, made him an obvious target.”
He added: “From the establishment of the SNC to meetings in Tokyo, Jakarta, Beijing, New York, and Paris, Son Sen always displayed a friendly demeanour toward me. These actions further contributed to Pol Pot’s distrust.”
The suspicion reached its peak with the brutal execution of Son Sen, his wife Yun Yat, and their entire family on the night of 9 June 1997. The following morning, villagers in Anlong Veng discovered the tragedy and, enraged by the massacre, joined forces with Ta Mok to hunt down Pol Pot and his loyalists. On 17 June 1997, Pol Pot was arrested by Ta Mok’s faction and placed under house arrest by a “People’s Court” in Anlong Veng. He was charged with ordering the murder of Son Sen and his family.
During his trial, Pol Pot admitted in an interview with American journalist Nate Thayer that his decision to execute Son Sen stemmed from suspicions regarding Son Sen’s relationship with Samdech Techo Hun Sen. He specifically cited the three anonymous letters intercepted in Kampong Thom province as a critical factor in his decision.
=FRESH NEWS
