Peter Khoy Saukam

The native form of this personal name is Saukam Khoy. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Saukam. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Peter.

Peter Khoy Saukam (born Saukam Khoy Khmer: សូកាំ ខូយ; 2 February 1915 – 14 November 2008) was a Cambodian senior military officer and politician who served as Acting President of the Khmer Republic for 12 days in April 1975. He was President of the Senate from 1972 to 1975.

General Peter Khoy Saukam
សូកាំ ខូយ
Khoy in 1975
Acting President of the Khmer Republic
In office 1 April 1975 – 12 April 1975
Prime Minister	Long Boret
Preceded by	Lon Nol
Succeeded by	Sak Sutsakhan as Chairman of the Supreme Committee
President of the Senate
In office 1972–1975
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Chea Sim (1999)
Personal details
Born	Saukam Khoy (1915-02-02)2 February 1915 Cambodia, French Indochina
Died	14 November 2008(2008-11-14) (aged 93) Stockton, California, U.S.
Political party	Social Republican Party
Spouse	Vom Tep Saukam
Children	7
Military service
Allegiance	First Kingdom of Cambodia Khmer Republic
Branch/service	Royal Cambodian Army  Khmer National Army
Years of service	1940–1975
Rank	General
Battles/wars	World War II First Indochina War Cambodian Civil War

Early life

Born on 2 February 1915, Saukam Khoy enlisted into the Khmer Royal Army in 1940, when he was 25. He achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1953 and subsequently, lieutenant-general. He became President of the Senate of the Khmer Republic in 1972.^[1]

Presidency

He took office on 1 April 1975, when a tearful Lon Nol left 'temporarily' with his entire family for Bali in Indonesia after an invitation from his friend, Indonesian President Suharto.^[2]

Khoy's time in office was short. He left Phnom Penh together with American Ambassador John Gunther Dean aboard a CH-53 helicopter during the evacuation of American embassy staff and civilians, dubbed Operation Eagle Pull on 12 April, just five days before Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge.^[3]

Death

Khoy died at the age of 93 in Stockton, California, United States, on 14 November 2008.^[4]