Khieu Chum

Khieu Chum (Khmer: ខៀវ ជុំ [kʰiəw cum], 1907-1975) was a prominent Cambodian Buddhist monk and activist who was a member of a small group of people responsible for planning the Cambodian coup of 1970 which overthrew the monarchy and placed General Lon Nol as leader of a new Khmer Republic. Chum was a student of Hem Chieu, a leading figure in the early period of modern Khmer nationalism. After Cambodia achieved independence in 1953, Chum became an active figure in internal politics and is now considered one of the country's most significant political thinkers of the era. He is also credited with writing the Anthem of the Khmer Republic.