Flag of the Khmer Republic
Encyclopedia
The flag of the Khmer Republic
is one of the historical flags of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
It consists of a blue field with a red rectangle in the canton
. The red rectangle bears the Angkor Wat
silhouette. Three large white stars are aligned horizontally on the upper corner of the blue field.
regime replacing the Royal Flag
. It was the official flag of Cambodia
for almost five years.
The last place where it was hoisted was in the final area held by the FANK
forces on the escarpment of the Preah Vihear Temple in the Dângrêk Mountains
. Even though their government had surrendered, loyalist Khmer Republic soldiers continued to fiercely hold their ground for nearly a month after the fall of Phnom Penh
. Finally that outpost
fell to the Khmer Rouge
on 22 May 1975. The flag of Democratic Kampuchea
became the flag of Cambodia after the ousting of the republican government.
The Khmer Republic flag was not used afterwards by Cambodian opposition groups in exile. Khmer scholar Keng Vannsak commented that, according to Cambodian superstition, the choice of three stars was inauspicious.
silhouette, as well as the colors of the royal flag
that had preceded it, but in a different pattern.
According to Article 4 of the Constitutional Law
of the Khmer Republic voted by the National Assembly on the 7th October 1970, the three stars in the blue field represent the following:
Khmer Republic
The Khmer Republic or République Khmère, was the republican government of Cambodia that was formally declared on October 9, 1970. The Khmer Republic was disestablished in 1975 and was followed by the totalitarian communist state known as Democratic Kampuchea.-Background:Formally declared on October...
is one of the historical flags of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
It consists of a blue field with a red rectangle in the canton
Canton (heraldry)
Canton is a square charge placed in the upper dexter corner. It is classed by some heraldic writers as one of the honorable ordinaries; but, strictly speaking, it is a diminutive of the Quarter, being two-thirds the area of that ordinary. However, in the roll of Henry III the quarter appears in...
. The red rectangle bears the Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu,...
silhouette. Three large white stars are aligned horizontally on the upper corner of the blue field.
History
The flag of the Khmer Republic was introduced in 9 October 1970 by the Lon NolLon Nol
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice, as well as serving repeatedly as Defense Minister...
regime replacing the Royal Flag
Flag of Cambodia
The national flag of Cambodia was readopted in 1993, after elections returned the monarchy to rule.-Brief history:Since around 1850, the Cambodian flag has featured a depiction of Angkor Wat in the center. The current flag, with a blue border and red central was adopted following Cambodia's...
. It was the official flag of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
for almost five years.
The last place where it was hoisted was in the final area held by the FANK
Fánk
Fánk is a sweet traditional Hungarian cake. The most commonly used ingredients are: flour, yeast, butter, egg yolk, a little bit of rum, a sniff of salt, milk and oil to deep fry with. After the pastry has risen for approximately 30 minutes the result is an extreme light doughnut-like pastry...
forces on the escarpment of the Preah Vihear Temple in the Dângrêk Mountains
Dângrêk Mountains
The Dângrêk Mountains , meaning "Carrying-Pole Mountains" in Khmer, is a mountain range forming a natural border between Cambodia and Thailand....
. Even though their government had surrendered, loyalist Khmer Republic soldiers continued to fiercely hold their ground for nearly a month after the fall of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. Finally that outpost
Outpost (military)
An Outpost in military terminology essentially means a detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks; and the station...
fell to the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
on 22 May 1975. The flag of Democratic Kampuchea
Flag of Democratic Kampuchea
The Flag of Democratic Kampuchea was adopted during Khmer Rouge rule under Cambodia.This flag is similar to the flag of Vietnam. It was among the communist state national flags without any symbolic red star or hammer and sickle.-History:...
became the flag of Cambodia after the ousting of the republican government.
The Khmer Republic flag was not used afterwards by Cambodian opposition groups in exile. Khmer scholar Keng Vannsak commented that, according to Cambodian superstition, the choice of three stars was inauspicious.
Symbolism
The flag of the Khmer Republic kept the three-towered Angkor WatAngkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu,...
silhouette, as well as the colors of the royal flag
Flag of Cambodia
The national flag of Cambodia was readopted in 1993, after elections returned the monarchy to rule.-Brief history:Since around 1850, the Cambodian flag has featured a depiction of Angkor Wat in the center. The current flag, with a blue border and red central was adopted following Cambodia's...
that had preceded it, but in a different pattern.
According to Article 4 of the Constitutional Law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
of the Khmer Republic voted by the National Assembly on the 7th October 1970, the three stars in the blue field represent the following:
- The Nation, the religion and the republic of Cambodia
- The Three powers of the State: Legislative, ExecutiveExecutive (government)Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
, and JudicialJudiciaryThe judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes... - The Three JewelsThree JewelsThe Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Siemese Triples, Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem , are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.The Three Jewels are:* BuddhaTaking refuge in the Three Jewels is...
of BuddhismBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
(BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, DharmaDharmaDharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and SanghaSanghaSangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
)
See also
- List of Cambodian flags
- Flag of Cambodia, Historical national flags
