Editing Heng Samrin (section)

==Life and career==
Heng Samrin was born in [[Kampong Cham Province]], Cambodia, in 1934. He joined the [[Khmer Rouge]] communist movement led by [[Pol Pot]], and became a [[political commissar]] and army division commander when the Khmer Rouge, backed by [[China]], took over the [[Khmer Republic|government]] in 1975. In 1978, after a series of violent purges within the Khmer Rouge leadership in which many prominent cadre members whom Pol Pot felt might be rivals were executed, he fled to [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Karl D.|title=Cambodia, 1975-1978: Rendezvous with Death|date=2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400851706|page=206|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noWXAwAAQBAJ&q=Heng+Samrin+purge+1978&pg=PA206|access-date=16 November 2015}}</ref> 

In Vietnam, he was one of the founding members of the [[Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation]] (FUNSK).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kiernan |first=Ben |title=Genocide and resistance in Southeast Asia: documentation, denial, and justice in Cambodia and East Timor |date=2008 |publisher=Transaction Publisher |isbn=978-1-4128-0668-8 |location=New-Brunswick}}</ref> Later that year, Heng returned to Cambodia and organized a resistance movement with the backing and support of Vietnam and the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kiernan |first=Ben |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/148764573 |title=Genocide and resistance in Southeast Asia: documentation, denial & justice in Cambodia & East Timor |date=2008 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=978-1-4128-0668-8 |location=New Brunswick |oclc=148764573}}</ref>

After a [[Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia]] overthrew the [[Democratic Kampuchea|regime of Khmer Rouge]] in 1979, Vietnamese occupation authorities established the [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]], installing Heng and other pro-Vietnamese Communist politicians as leaders of the new government.<ref>{{cite book|title=World and Its peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia|volume=6|editor=Marshall Cavendish|year=2007|chapter=Cambodia: Modern History|page=765|first=H|last=Heller}}</ref> He became chairman of the People's Revolutionary Council of the PRK in 1979. In 1981, he became chairman of the Council of State and secretary-general of the People's Revolutionary Party. Though at first he was the effective leader of the government, he lost much of his political power when [[Hun Sen]] became [[Prime Minister of Cambodia]] in 1985.

As Vietnamese influence declined, Samrin gradually lost his posts, including the post of secretary-general in 1991 and chairman of the council of state in 1992. When King [[Norodom Sihanouk]] was restored in 1993, Samrin was given the honorary title of Sâmdech, senior advisor of the King, and was made honorary chairman of Hun Sen's [[Cambodian People's Party]]. He was vice chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia (1998–2006). Since 2006, he has acted as Chairman of the [[Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation|Solidarity Front for Development of the Cambodian Motherland]].

The Cambodian People's Party recently released a book about Samrin called ''A Man of the People'',<ref>{{cite book|title=Heng Samrin, A Man of the People|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/74424186/Heng-Samrin-Book-English-Final}}</ref> dedicated to him as a hero.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunt|first=Luke|title=Heng Samrin, Man of the People|url=https://thediplomat.com/asean-beat/2011/09/21/heng-samrin-man-of-the-people/|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref> According to that book, among supporters of the ruling CPP Heng Samrin is a "much loved and respected figure", even though his recent duties are often largely ceremonial.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunt|first=Luke|title=Heng Samrin, Man of the People|url=https://thediplomat.com/asean-beat/2011/09/21/heng-samrin-man-of-the-people/|access-date=1 June 2012|newspaper=The Diplomate}}</ref> His full title is ''Samdach Akeak Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Protean Radhsaphea ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea'' (Khmer: សម្តេចអគ្គមហាពញាចក្រី ហេង សំរិន ប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា នៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា).