Youtevong

Prince Sisowath Youtevong (ទ្រង់ ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ យុត្តិវង្ស) (1913-1947) was the Father of Cambodian Democracy and The Father of the Cambodian Constitution. Fact|date=February 2008

Introduction

Prince Sisowath Youtevong (1913-1947) (alternative spellings: Yutevong or Youthevong) was a pioneer of Cambodian political activism. Many political writers lauded his brilliant political shrewdness and Cambodian politicians of contemporary generation admired and looked up to him as an inspiration and a political mentor. Dr. Lao Mong Hay, a Khmer political scientist, in an essay “ Development of Cambodian Democracy” credited Prince Youtevong with the introduction of democracy to Cambodia (1). After the end of World War II Prince Youtevong formed the Democratic Party which won the first relatively free and fair election in 1946. After the election victory of 1946, the Democratic Party convened a constituent assembly and was tasked with the drafting of the first Cambodian constitution which was modelled on the constitution of the French Fourth Republic.Other writers have credited Prince Youtevong with providing a “politically amorous vision” to Cambodia. Professor Matt Matsuda of Rutgers University, wrote in an essay “Affinities and Empires: ¾ Tales From The Pacific”, in describing the French colonialism as “an empire of love” in the Pacific, referred to Prince Youtevong’s pioneering political activism in the following powerful tribute:“In the mid-twentieth century the Cambodian Prince Sisowath Youtevong had provided an ideal expression of this “politically amorous vision”(2). “This” referred to “an empire of love” of the French colonialism in the Pacific Region, including Cambodia.Some Cambodian political writers credited Prince Youtevong with the introduction of “liberal democracy” to Cambodia. In describing Cambodia’s turbulent path to democracy, Peter Keo, in an essay titled “The Rise of Cambodia’s Illiberal Democracy” wrote that:“Cambodia bore witness to the short but inspirational second wave of democratization with the emergence of nationalism under the leadership of Prince Sisowath Youtevong and the introduction of liberal democracy from 1946 to 1955.”(3)Prince Youtevong was considered as the Father of Cambodian Democracy and the Father of the Cambodian Constitution due to his pioneering democratic and constitutional works. But above all else, he was a true Khmer nationalist. He, along with many of his political contemporaries, had fought tirelessly for Cambodia’s democracy and her independence from France. Unfortunately and regrettably, he did not live long enough to see the fruits of his hard efforts.

Political Life

Prince Sisowath Youtevong can be credited with the birth of Cambodian democracy and considered as a Cambodian parliamentary political pioneer. He, like Prince Norodom Yukanthor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukanthor] before him, can also be considered as a nationalist who spearheaded a political movement to exert pressures on France to relinquish its grips on Cambodia and give her some sort of independence.Kenneth T. So and Monireak Keo, in an essay “The Road To Khmer Independence’ claimed that, bowing to pressures from the Khmer Issarak (The Independent Khmers) and the urge for some sort of political freedom from the Khmer intellectuals and political activists within the country, in 1946, the French agreed to allow the formation of political parties in Cambodia. Many Khmer political aspirants, including princes who were receptive to the French relaxation of political control, took the advantage and formed political parties in droves. Among the many parties that were formed there were two notable parties which were formed by two Khmer princes. Prince Sisowath Youtevong, at the young age of 33 headed the Democratic Party while his princely and political rival, Prince Norodom Norindeth, at the tender age of 40 headed the Liberal Party. The two princely parties had the same goal, and that was to obtain independence for Cambodia from France, but they were politically and philosophically different in their approach to obtaining this independence and to the solving of other Khmer problems.The Democratic Party was a party that envisaged civil liberties and parliamentary democracy modelled after the French Fourth Republic. The party advocated a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system of government with the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and the judicial branches. The party also advocated an establishment of a parliament with a popularly elected assembly having legislative and deliberative powers. The party was nationalistic in nature and was cautiously strongly anti-French in sentiment. The Democratic Party’s political platform, as insisted by Prince Youtevong himself, was to demand for the immediate independence from France and wanted a parliamentary system of government for Cambodia. Their political platforms have attracted membership from the Cambodian elites and intellectuals with such luminary personalities as Prince Yutevong, Son Sann [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_Sann] , Chhean Vam, Sim Var, Ieu Koeuss, Huy Kanthoul, Penn Nouth and others whose opinions and views had been greatly influenced by the nationalistic appeals of Nagaravatta, a newspaper founded by Pach Chhoeun and Son Ngoc Thanh [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_Ngoc_Thanh] , before it was ordered closed down by the French in 1942 (4). Many Democrats sympathized with the violent armed struggle of the Khmer Issarak. In contrast, the Liberal Party that was founded by Prince Norodom Norindeth and Sonn Voeunsai did not attract the intellectual elites like those who were inspired by the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party, which represented the interests of the rural elites and the common people, only managed to draw memberships from people such as landowners, businessmen, top ranking officials, and Buddhist monks. The party advocated respect for human rights, person and property, and envisaged a cordially paternal and close relationship with the French. The Liberal Party preferred to retain some sort of colonial relationship with France and favoured a gradual democratic reform instead of an outright independence espoused by the Democratic Party. In principle the French actively supported the Liberal Party of Prince Norindeth but was very much opposed to the Democratic Party of prince Youtevong.In 1946 Cambodia held its first ever parliamentary election. In a relatively free and fair Consultative Assembly election held in September 1946, the Democratic Party of Prince Youtevong won 50 out of a total of 67 parliamentary seats.With a solid majority in the assembly, Prince Youtevong led the Democratic Party in drafting a constitution which modelled on that of the French Fourth Republic. The popularly elected National Assembly was given total power in which to legislate. The king, who effectively became a constitutional monarch in the newly drafted constitution, reluctantly proclaimed the new constitution on May 6, 1947. While it recognized him as the "spiritual head of the state," that constitution effectively reduced him to the status of a powerless constitutional monarch, and it left unclear the extent to which he could play an active role in the political affairs of the nation. However, King Sihanouk [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sihanouk] would turn this ambiguity to his advantage in later years.In the December 1947 elections for the National Assembly, the Democratic Party again won the election with a huge majority. Despite its huge success, dissension and internal wrangling within the party was rampant. Its founder, Sisowath Yuthevong, had died under mysterious circumstances in 1947 and no clear leader had emerged to succeed him. During the period of 1948 to 1949, the Democratic Party appeared to have united only in their opposition to legislation sponsored by the king or his appointees. A major issue was the king's receptivity to, and his acceptance of, independence within the French Union, proposed in a draft treaty offered by France in late 1948. Following the King’s dissolution of the National Assembly in September 1949, the agreement on the pact was reached through an exchange of letters between King Sihanouk and the French government. It went into effect two months later, though that treaty had never been ratified by the Cambodian National Assembly.

Educational Background (5)

Prince Sisowath Youtevong was not only a bright and well educated young man but he was an intellectual of high calibre. He graduated from the Faculty of Sciences in Montpellier, France in 1941 with a doctorate degree in Physical Sciences with high honour (mention très honorable). It was claimed that he was the first ever Cambodian to have earned a doctorate degree from a foreign educational institution. Upon completion of his education in France and before returning to Cambodia after he completed his study, Prince Youtevong had represented the French Union as its Delegate at the Conference in Hot Springs in the United States of America. He had also worked for the French Ministry of Outre-Mer for some times. He was a French official and was also an active member of the French Socialist Party as well. Since Cambodia was still under the control the French Protectorate, it was assumed that members of the Democratic Party felt that it would be to their advantage and wise to choose Prince Youtevong as the president of the Democratic Party for the above reasons. It was also assumed that the French probably felt and hoped that Prince Youtevong would still be friendly and indebted to France because he was educated at a French school, worked for the French government, and served as a Delegate for the French Union. In this manner the French could still hope to control both parties.Prince Youtevong and the Democrats were Khmer nationalsits who were tirelessly fighting against France which at that time was considered to be the enemy and the colonial master of the Khmer people. Ironically, it was acceptable to the Democrats that their leader was married to a French woman (Dominique Lavergne 1924-) and was advocating a divorce from France. Was this not a case of sleeping with the enemy?The first election in 1946 provided the Democrats with a huge majority in the National Assembly. Prince Youtevong became the main architect of the Khmer Constitution which was modelled after the French Fourth Republic. It was ironic that the Democrats wanted to divorce from France but at the same time they wanted to write a Khmer Constitution modelled after the French. It was assumed that the Democrats designed it this way as not to antagonize the French. It was also assumed that the Democratic Party was trying to appease France by modelling this constitution after the French constitution. After the Constitution had been completed and promulgated, the power was now vested in the hand of the National Assembly. Prince Youtevong, who had been until now a minor prince, had taken centre stage and suddenly realized that he would become more powerful than the king. On 6 May 1947 the king reluctantly proclaimed the birth of the new Khmer Constitution. The king realized that his role as a monarch was greatly reduced, stripped much of his power and effectively had become a constitutional monarch, not by design but by chance.With the Democratic Party’s victory, Prince Youtevong became President of the Council of Ministers, effectively meaning that he was Prime Minister of Cambodia. In addition to his position as Prime Minister, he also took control of the post of Minister of Interior. It was ironic that someone who espoused, and adhered to, the democratic principle would want to concentrate powers in his hands by controlling the two most important positions in a democratically-elected government. It seemed that the Prince did not trust some of the people who worked around him.After their election success, it seemed that the Democratic Party would be a strong force to be reckoned with. On the contrary, due to its arrogance and spoiled by their success, the Democrats became unruly and faced continual internal conflicts. It seemed that the jealousies, the envies and the rivalries between the Party members played a vital part in this, as each and everyone of them were jockeying for plum positions within the newly formed government. Unfortunately and regrettably, Prince Youtevong did not live long enough to enjoy the Democrats' victory and his hard earned achievements because he died on the 17th of July 1947. There were widespread speculations about his death at such an early age. There was not any sign of his illness. And there were speculations that he was probably poisoned by the French or King Sihanouk’s agents. There were some speculations that some of his jealous rivals within his own party may have a part in his death. However, the circumstances and the mystery surrounding his death had not been satisfactorily resolved up to this present day.

Family Lineage (6)

Prince Sisowath Youtevong was from a minor royal family. His father was born into Prince Ang Em’s royal lineage, not from King Ang Duong, King Norodom or King Sisowath’s lineage that would give him a royal privilege to succeed the throne. This effectively meant that he was never a contender for the Cambodian throne. He was born in the old royal Cambodian captital city of Oudong in 1913 and died at Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh on 17 July 1947 and was cremated on the 18th of the same month. He was the son of Prince Chamraengvongs (1870-1916) and Princess Sisowath Yubhiphan (1877-1st January 1967) who was a daughter of Prince Sisowath Essaravong, with this latter being the oldest son of King Sisowath Monivong [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisowath_Monivong] . Prince Youtevong was the grandson of Prince Bhumarin (1842-1909), the great grandson of Prince Ang Bhim (1824-1855), the great-great grandson of Prince Ang Em (1794-1844) who was the elder brother of King Ang Duong (1796-19th October 1860). King Ang Duong was the father of King Norodom [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norodom] (1834-24th April, 1904) and King Sisowath [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisowath] (7th Sept. 1840-1927). Prince Ang Em and King Ang Duong were the younger brothers of King Ang Chan II (1792-1834) and they were the sons of King Ang Eng (1772-1796). Prince Youtevong was the youngest child in a family of five siblings. His other siblings are: 1. Princess Bophasy Teul (1902-1957), 2. Prince Sisowath Indravong (1904-1977), 3. Princess Sisowath Ang Non (1906-1975), 4. Princess Sisowath Chakaravudh (1906-1933) and then Prince Youtevong.Prince Youtevong was married to a French woman named Dominique Laverne (1924-) and had two daughters namely 1. Neak Ang Rajavong Sisowath Kantara (1945-) and 2. Neak Ang Rajavong Sisowath Lenanda (1946-), who now lived in France.Prince Youtevong was the child of an incestuous marital relationship. His grandfather, Prince Bhumarin, married his full-blooded sister, Princess Thnamvong, and produced the only child, Prince Chamraenvongs, who was the father of Prince Youtevong (5). By traditions, Prince Youtevong should not be a Sisowath as he was not from either the Ang Duong, the Norodom or the Sisowath branch of the royal family (5). It had been assumed and speculated that his parents may want to take advantage of his maternal family lineage with King Sisowath who ascended the throne in 1904 (5). Because Sisowath became king of Cambodia in 1904, Prince Youtevong's parents may have decided that their children should use their mother's last name, Sisowath, as their family name, a name which entitles him to lay claim to the Cambodian throne (5). That kind of deviation from tradition was unprecedented in the history of Khmer royalty (5). Based on the above speculation and assumption, the political destiny of Prince Youtevong was not by chance but by design (5). His opposition to King Norodom Sihanouk was born out of his nationalistic desire for Cambodia’s independence but it was tacitly supported by the Sisowaths (5). The Sisowaths felt cheated by the French for putting Sihanouk, a prince from a Norodom royal lineage, on the throne (5). They felt that Prince Sisowath Monireth should have been chosen as the king, following King Monivong's death (5). The Norodoms, as claimed later by Sihanouk, felt that they have been cheated when the French enthroned Sisowath as king instead of King Norodom’s politically astute and independence-conscious sons such as Prince Yukanthor, Prince Duong Chacr or Prince Mayura. Since that time, the Sisowaths and the Norodoms have constantly been in rivalry with each other.

Prince Youtevong’s Legacy (7)

After the death of Prince Youtevong in 1947, the Democratic Party elected the grandson of King Sisowath, Prince Sisowath Vachhayavong (alternatively spelled Watchayavong), to be Prime Minister from 25 July 1947 to 20 February 1948. Afterwards, the party elected Chhean Vam to succeed Prince Sisowath Vachhayavong. However, due to some infightings, the Prime Minister found his power insufficient and could not lead the government effectively. He requested for more power but the request was turned down. Chhean Vam was then ousted as prime minister on that issue on the 14th of August 1948. Penn Nouth was then elected as the next Prime Minister. As was the case with Chheam Vam, he did not remain long as the prime minister because Yem Sambaur, a former member of the Democratic Party,successfully accused Penn Nouth of corruption. Yem Sambaur had left the Democratic Party to form his own minority grouping. And unexpectedly, Yem Sambaur was chosen as the next Cambodian Prime Minister on the 12th of February 1949 in place of Penn Nouth. It was a surprise and unprecedented that considering the Democratic Party had parliamentary majority and total control of the parliament it could not elect one of their members as the prime minister. The only explainable reason was that the members of the Democratic Party were riddled with internal fighting and jealousy of each other. It was speculated that jealousy had played an important part in the election of Yem Sambaur, a non-Democratic Party candidate, as the prime minister. After Yem Sambaur was elected Prime Minister, the Democrats had come to their senses and started to have second thought and had successfully moved a motion of censure against the Prime Minister. The nature of the censure was not clear. King Sihanouk was enraged with this censure motion and on the 18th of September 1949 he dissolved the National Assembly and signed a treaty with France to obtain some sort of semi-independence for Cambodia.The treaty with France granted Cambodia the control of most of administrative functions. As a reward to the king, the provinces of Battambang and Siemreap that the French claimed back from Thailand in 1946 were transferred to the Cambodian government for autonomous rule with its own armed forces without any French interference. However, on matters of foreign policy, the Cambodian government had to consult with the French Union before reaching any decisions. The French still retained most of the judicial systems, finances, and customs. Other parts of Cambodia other than Battambang and Siemreap, France still retained their military controls. The reason the French wanted to retain military controls on other parts of Cambodia was because the French authority felt nervous about military threats from Vietnam, whose independence-minded nationalists had been actively waging a war of independence from France for a long time, and those independence-driven insurgents could cause the break-up of the French Union.

Prince Youtevong had left a memorable legacy. He had pioneered Cambodian political activism and championed the democratic and parliamentary systems of Cambodia. He died for his cause and that of Cambodia’s. Unfortunately and regrettably, he did not live long enough to see the fruits of his efforts, the sacrifices he had made only to be put back into the Dark Ages by the Khmer Rouge regime. He died under mysterious circumstances in Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh on the 17th of July 1947, presumably poisoned by the French or King Sihanouk’s agents.

Prince Sisowath Youtevong’s Family Tree (8)

HM King ANG ENGBORN : 1772DIED : 1796

PARTNER : Untraced CHILDREN:HM King ANG CHAN II [1792 - 1834] Preah Ang Mechas ANG BHIM [1793 - 1798] Preah Ang Mechas ANG SNGUON [1794 - 1822] Preah Ang Mechas Meatuccha Preah Ang Mechas ANG EM [1794 - 1844] HM King ANG DUONG [1796 - 19 OCT 1860]

Preah Ang Mechas ANG EMBORN : 1794DIED : 1844, Chaudoc,South Vietnam

FATHER : HM King ANG ENG [1772 - 1796] PARTNER : Preah Ang Mechas Ang Peou CHILDREN:Preah Ang Mechas ANG BHIM [1824 - 1855] Preah Ang Mechas Kessarey [1827 - ] Preah Ang Mechas Samor [1831 - 1914/1915] Preah Ang Mechas Ang Ing [ca 1837 - ]

Preah Ang Mechas ANG BHIMBORN : 1824DIED : 1855

FATHER : Preah Ang Mechas ANG EM [1794 - 1844] MOTHER : Preah Ang Mechas Ang Peou PARTNER : Preah Ang Mechas Ang Snguon CHILDREN:Preah Ang Mechas BHUMARIN [1842 - 1909] Preah Ang Mechas Thnamvong [1844 - 1943]

Preah Ang Mechas BHUMARINBORN : 1842DIED : 1909

FATHER : Preah Ang Mechas ANG BHIM [1824 - 1855] MOTHER : Preah Ang Mechas Ang Snguon PARTNER : Preah Ang Mechas Thnamvong [1844 - 1943] CHILD: Preah Ang Mechas CHAMRAENVONGS [1870 - 1916]

Preah Ang Mechas CHAMRAENVONGSBORN : 1870DIED : 1916

FATHER : Preah Ang Mechas BHUMARIN [1842 - 1909] MOTHER : Preah Ang Mechas Thnamvong [1844 - 1943] PARTNER : Neak Ang Mechas Sisowath Yubhiphan [1877 - 1 JAN 1967] CHILDREN: Neak Ang Mechas Sisowath Bophasy Teul [1902 - 1957] Neak Ang Mechas SISOWATH INDRAVONG [1904 - 1977] Neak Ang Mechas Sisowath Ang Non [1906 - 1975] Neak Ang Mechas SISOWATH CHAKARAVUDH [1906 - 1933] Neak Ang Mechas SISOWATH YOUTEVONG [1913 - 17 JUL 1947]

Neak Ang Mechas SISOWATH YOUTEVONGBORN : 1913, Oudong,CambodiaDIED : 17 JUL 1947, Preah Keth Monlea Hospital,Phnom PenhCREMATED : 18 JUL 1947, Phnom Penh,Cambodia

FATHER : Preah Ang Mechas CHAMRAENVONGS [1870 - 1916] MOTHER : Neak Ang Mechas Sisowath Yubhiphan [1877 - 1 JAN 1967] PARTNER : Dominique Lavergne [1924 - ] CHILDREN: Neak Ang Rajavong Sisowath Kantara [1945 - ] Neak Ang Rajavong Sisowath Lenanda [1946 - ]

References

*(1) Dr. Lao Mong Hay, Development of Cambodian Democracy.
*(2) Wikipedia, Professor Matt Matsuda of Rutgers University, Affinities and Empires: ¾ Tales From The Pacific.
*(3) Peter Keo, The Rise of Cambodia’s Illiberal Democracy,(http://www.phnompenhpost.com/TXT/comments/rise.htm).
*(4) Wikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Cambodia
*(5) Kenneth T. So and Monireak Keo, The Road to Khmer Independence (http://www.caraweb.org/).
*(6) Henry Sozsynski, The Genealogy of the Cambodian Royal Family.
*(7) Kenneth T. So and Monireak Keo, The Road to Khmer Independence (http://www.caraweb.org/).
*(8) Henry Sozsynski, The Genealogy of the Cambodian Royal Family.