# Nuon Chea

> Cambodian politician and convicted war criminal (1926-2019)

**Wikidata**: [Q379225](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379225)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuon_Chea)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nuon-chea

## Summary
Nuon Chea was a Cambodian politician and convicted war criminal who served as a key figure in the Khmer Rouge regime during the Cambodian genocide. He was a co-founder of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and a leading member of the Khmer Rouge, responsible for overseeing the mass killings and forced labor camps that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people.

## Biography
- Born: July 7, 1926, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Nationality: Cambodian
- Education: Studied at Thammasat University in Thailand
- Known for: Leading the Khmer Rouge regime and overseeing the Cambodian genocide
- Employer(s): Communist Party of Kampuchea, Khmer Rouge
- Field(s): Political leadership, revolutionary governance

## Contributions
Nuon Chea co-founded the Communist Party of Kampuchea in 1951 and later became a central figure in the Khmer Rouge, which he led from 1975 to 1979. He was responsible for implementing the regime's policies of mass killings, forced labor, and cultural destruction, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million Cambodians. His leadership during the Khmer Rouge regime is one of the most significant contributions to the history of Cambodia.

## FAQs
**What was Nuon Chea's role in the Khmer Rouge regime?**
Nuon Chea was a co-founder of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and a leading member of the Khmer Rouge, serving as a key political and military leader. He oversaw the implementation of the regime's policies, including mass killings and forced labor camps, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people.

**Where was Nuon Chea educated?**
Nuon Chea studied at Thammasat University in Thailand.

**What was the Khmer Rouge, and how did Nuon Chea contribute?**
The Khmer Rouge was a radical communist faction that seized power in Cambodia in 1975, leading to a period of extreme violence and oppression. Nuon Chea was a central figure in the Khmer Rouge, responsible for overseeing the regime's policies of mass killings and forced labor, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people.

**What was the impact of Nuon Chea's leadership on Cambodia?**
Nuon Chea's leadership during the Khmer Rouge regime had a devastating impact on Cambodia, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people. The regime's policies of mass killings, forced labor, and cultural destruction left a lasting scar on Cambodian society and history.

## Why They Matter
Nuon Chea's leadership during the Khmer Rouge regime was one of the most significant and tragic events in Cambodian history. His actions resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people, leaving a lasting impact on the country's political, social, and cultural landscape. The Khmer Rouge's policies of mass killings, forced labor, and cultural destruction remain a dark chapter in Cambodian history, and Nuon Chea's role in overseeing these actions is a crucial part of understanding the country's recent past.

## Notable For
- Co-founder of the Communist Party of Kampuchea
- Leading member of the Khmer Rouge regime
- Responsible for overseeing the Cambodian genocide, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people
- Key political and military leader during the Khmer Rouge era

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Nuon Chea was born on July 7, 1926, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He studied at Thammasat University in Thailand, where he became involved in leftist political activities.

### Political Career and Khmer Rouge Leadership
Nuon Chea co-founded the Communist Party of Kampuchea in 1951 and later became a central figure in the Khmer Rouge, which he led from 1975 to 1979. He was responsible for implementing the regime's policies of mass killings, forced labor, and cultural destruction, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people.

### Impact on Cambodia
Nuon Chea's leadership during the Khmer Rouge regime had a devastating impact on Cambodia, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people. The regime's policies of mass killings, forced labor, and cultural destruction left a lasting scar on Cambodian society and history.

### Legacy and Conviction
Nuon Chea was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007. He died on August 4, 2019, in a French prison. His legacy remains a dark chapter in Cambodian history, and his role in overseeing the Cambodian genocide is a crucial part of understanding the country's recent past.

## References

1. [Nuon Chea, ancien dirigeant khmer rouge et bras droit de Pol Pot, est mort](https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2019/08/04/nuon-chea-ancien-dirigeant-khmer-rouge-et-bras-droit-de-pol-pot-est-mort_5496486_3382.html)
2. [Hija de un exlíder del Jemer Rojo defiende a su padre antes de su cremación. Agencia EFE. 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2woL0rqfo4)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. BBC Things
6. The Movie Database
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File