Chau Sen Cocsal obituary

23 Jan 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Born in 1905, the former prime minister was an influential politician of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime, and a close associate of Norodom Sihanouk
The former president of the National Assembly and former prime minister of Cambodia, Chau Sen Cocsal also known as Chhum, passed away on Thursday 22 January at the age of 104.

Religious ceremonies will be held on Friday 23 Jan and Saturday 24 Jan. The funeral procession will take place on Monday 25 Jan at 7:30AM in Phnom Penh starting from the house of the deceased.

Born on 01 September 1905 in the province of Chau Doc, Vietnam (in fact Kampuchea Krom), Chau Sen Cocsal completed his high school degree in 1926 at the Prey Nokor high school, in Saigon.

Nominated to provincial governor by Sihanouk under the Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime, he went on to become Cambodia’s ambassador in Bangkok between 1951 and 1953.

Between 1959 and 1968, he became president of the National Assembly and, at time, was also prime minister.

Between the end of 1989 and the beginning of 1990, he was nominated as the head of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia (SNC), and SNC member between 10 Sept 1990 and 19 July 1991.

Nominated as supreme advisor to the king in 1992, Chau Sen Cocsal also led the Constitutional Council between 1998 and 2007.