Prince Sisowath Monireth (Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុន្នីរ៉េត; November 25, 1909 – September 1975^[1]) was Prime Minister of Cambodia, during the French Protectorate Period, from October 17, 1945 to December 15, 1946. One of the most prominent members of the Sisowath line of the royal family at the time, he had earlier been passed over for the throne by the French authorities in favor of Norodom Sihanouk, whom they considered to be more pliable. The prince, however, remained heir to the throne under Sihanouk's reign.

Early life[edit]

The original Cambodian Scout movement Ankar Khamarak Kayarith was created in 1934, under the direction of Prince Sisowath Monireth and other leaders, including Tem Im and Pok Thiem. This first era of Cambodian Scouting spread over several provinces and numbered more than 1,000 members.

Period in office[edit]

One of his first acts as Prime Minister was to create the first modern Cambodian army. Having won the consent of the French, who had just returned to power in Cambodia after the defeat of the Japanese in World War II, Prince Monireth succeeded in forming out of former colonial NCOs the basis for an indigenous army whose mission, according to the Franco-Khmer Military Convention of November 20, 1946, was to uphold the sovereignty of the king, to preserve internal security, and to defend the frontiers of the country.^[2]

In later years, Prince Monireth temporarily acted as Head of State from April 6 to June 13, 1960 in his capacity as chairman of the Regency Council.

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