Sosthène Fernandez

General Sosthène Fernandez was the commander-in-chief of the Khmer National Armed Forces (French: Force Armée Nationale Khmère) and chief of general staff after Norodom Sihanouk was deposed as head of state in 1970. Prior to 1970, he was a prominent politician and a former chief of the police.

General Sosthène Fernandez and Lon Nol left the country before the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh in 1975. All the republicans wanted to stop the Civil War in Cambodia. Several others officials such as Long Boret, Lon Non and Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak remained in office until the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. They mistakenly thought that they would be spared through the intercession of Norodom Sihanouk, but were executed by the Khmer Rouge.

Undoubtedly, General Fernandez was an important figure of Cambodia's war against the red Khmer. He is a part of Cambodia History and said to be very influential General that couldn't continue the fight against the Khmer Rouge, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.

In 1975 because of the cut of US aid all the republican government's leaders wanted to stop the war without conditions. Whereas, General Fernandez Sosthène refused to negotiate with the Red Khmer if the government would impose to his army's solders (FANK) to let down their arms during the negotiation; for this reason he resigned. So the government let the Khmer rouge take Phnom Penh without real battle for the purpose of negotiation.

1998 General Sosthène Fernandez came back to Cambodia to meet his former solders and all Cambodian citizens. He has written a book about his life as the Commander in Chief of the Khmer National Armed Force.

Quotes

• "We will continue the fight until the North Vietnamese Communists leave our territory"
• "If the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong are still here, I will ask the U.S. to continue the air support."

External Links

• An Analysis on Seeking a Formula for Bringing top Red Khmer Leaders to Trial
• Image of Ltg Sosthène Fernandez
• Western Democratic league
• BBC TV clip of Ltg Sosthene Fernandez
• Military History
• Kissinger,Ltg Sosthène Fernandez against Pol Pot connection
• Documentation Center of Cambodia in association with Yale's University
• Cambodia (Khmer Republic) 1975
• Cambodia History
• Chronology of Cambodian History
• French video channel
• European Review of History
• Ltg Sosthène Fernandez comemorate the Armed Forced day with Prince Sisovath and FANK's Solders
• Survivors

United States Congress and Senate http://books.google.fr/books?id=R94PAAAAIAAJ&q=sosth%C3%A8ne+fernandez&dq=sosth%C3%A8ne+fernandez&pgis=1

http://books.google.fr/books?id=HOA1AAAAIAAJ&q=sosthene+fernandez&dq=sosthene+fernandez&pgis=1