Khieu Ponnary

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Khieu Ponnary

Khieu Ponnary (Khmer: ខៀវ ពញ្ញរី; 9 November 1905 – 24 June 2003) was a prominent figure in the early history of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and the Khmer Rouge movement in Cambodia. She was the first wife of Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Early Life

Khieu Ponnary was born on 9 November 1905 in Battambang Province, Cambodia. Little is known about her early life and education prior to her involvement in politics.

Political Involvement

Ponnary became involved in leftist politics during the 1940s and joined the nascent Communist movement in Cambodia. She played a significant role in the formation of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, which later evolved into the Khmer Rouge.

Marriage to Pol Pot

In 1956, Khieu Ponnary married Pol Pot, who would later become the leader of the Khmer Rouge regime. Their marriage was seen as a union of two influential figures within the Communist movement in Cambodia.

Role in the Khmer Rouge Regime

During the Khmer Rouge regime, Khieu Ponnary held various positions of authority within the government, although her exact role and responsibilities remain unclear. She was known to be a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea.

Later Years and Death

Following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, Khieu Ponnary lived in seclusion and her whereabouts were largely unknown. She passed away on 24 June 2003, with little information available about her life in the years after the regime's collapse.