Political Program of the National United Front of Kampuchea – NUFK, 1970

The Cambodian people established an organized society more than 2,000 years ago, and the light of the
Angkor civilization shone throughout Southeast Asia for many centuries, making an appreciable contri-
bution to world civilization. During that period, Cambodian society honoured moral and intellectual values,
cultivated traditions of struggle, and fostered a sense of honour and dignity. It looked upon state power
as a mission to serve the people and placed the general interest above the interests of the individual.
The happiness and well-being of the people were the supreme aim of all state power. The evidences
of this civilization, the marks of a popular conception of state responsibilities, and the refinement of its
philosophy are perceptible everywhere: on the bas-reliefs of historical monuments, in inscriptions, on
gravestones, in the remains of hospitals, barrages, causeways, bridges, etc., and in all the details of
the habits and customs in the life of our people. As with other peoples, through the centuries the Cam
-bodian people passed through crises, accidents and misfortunes, as well as periods of prosperity,
victorious struggles and splendour. During the past century, just as the other peoples on the Indochina
peninsula, the Cambodian people suffered from the rule of French colonialism. But loyal to their long
tradition of struggle and inspired by the heritage of Angkor’s splendour, the Cambodian people never
ceased — even during the darkest moments of their history — to carry on a stubborn fight against
colonialist occupation and to undergo supreme sacrifices in order to safeguard their national indepen
-dence. Our history is filled with glorious pages and the lineage of our ancestors is rich in heroes. That
is why, guided by the noble traditions of their ancestors and inspired by their rich national heritage,
the entire Cambodian people, united as one in a heroic struggle against the French colonialists —
who were already supported by the American interventionists — finally won complete national
independence, recognized and guaranteed by the Geneva Agreements of 1954.

Since then, the Cambodian people, in conformity with their temperament and profound aspirations,
chose a policy of national independence, peace and neutrality, and adopted the Five Principles of
Peaceful Co-existence of Bandung of 1955 in international relations. However, experience has shown
that the American imperialists are the most dangerous, the most implacable and the most treacherous
enemy of our people and our policy. As a matter of fact, they fomented a number of plots, of which
the most important were: The 1959 plot with the participation of the Cambodian general Dap
Chhuon, Sam Sary, and a member of the Embassy of the United States of America in Phnom
Penh, which was followed by the sending of a time-bomb to the Royal Palace; The 1963 plot
organized by Song Sak, a banker and an agent of the CIA, with the complicity of Sirik Matak,
aimed at sabotaging our economy and our policy. During the past ten years, the armed forces of
the Saigon government, serving the United States and often supported by American troops and
planes, have been openly and intensively committing aggression against our frontier villages and
inhabitants, causing major losses in property and the death of hundreds of our compatriots, the
greater part of whom were defenseless civilians — men, women and children. But seeing the
political maturity of the Khmer people, who were able to defeat all the plots and acts of aggression,
the agents of the American imperialists and their flunkeys — consisting of a group of traitors headed
by Lon Nol and Sirik Matak — manoeuvred to undermine openly the nationalized sector of our
economy. They increased arrests, arbitrary detentions and assassinations of patriots, stepped
up vilifications and distortions of the truth against honest intellectuals, monks, and progressive
patriots standing firmly for neutrality, and excluded them from serving the state.

The culmination of this plot was the military coup d’état of March 18, 1970, which permitted the Amer
-ican imperialists to install in Phnom Penh a fascist and racist regime headed by the traitors Lon Nol
and Sirik Matak. One month after that event, the whole world came to know that the policy of national
independence, peace and neutrality of our country was dead, and that the traitors Lon Nol and Sirik
Matak were more and more openly associating themselves with the other flunkeys of the American
imperialists in Indochina and in Asia in order to impose on the Cambodian people a fascist and racist
dictatorship. The whole world also knows that Cambodia has become a new “Viet Nam” where the
American forces are openly and savagely intervening in order to suppress our people. Responding
to the historic call of March 23, 1970 by Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State, the Cambodian
people, of one mind, have conducted with enthusiasm and ardour political, armed and other forms of
struggle both at home and abroad — in the capital, urban centres and in the countryside, including the
most remote places — shaking the morale and the already precarious authority of the traitors in the
country. The aim of the present political programme of the NUFK is to realize the broadest national
union for fighting against all the manoeuvres and aggression of the American imperialists, overthrowing
the dictatorship of their flunkeys headed by Lon Nol and Sirik Matak, and for defending the national
independence, peace, neutrality, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country within her present
frontiers, and for building a free and democratic regime of the people, progressing towards the
construction of a prosperous Cambodia conforming to the profound aspirations of our people.

PART ONE UNITE THE ENTIRE PEOPLE FOR FIGHTING AGAINST ALL THE MANUEVERS AND
AGGRESSION OF THE AMERICAN IMPERIALISTS AND OVERTHROWING THE DICTATORSHIP
OF THEIR FLUNKEYS HEADED BY LON NOL-SIRIK MATAK AND FOR BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT,
PEACEFUL, NEUTRAL, DEMOCRATIC AND PROSPEROUS CAMBODIA. During the last fifteen
years, the Khmer people have been able to safeguard an independent, peaceful and neutral Cam
-bodia. They have defeated all the manoeuvres of encirclement, provocation, subversion and aggr-
ession by the American imperialists and thus have frustrated their plans of aggression aimed at
establishing a system of military bases from South Viet Nam to Thailand, including Laos and Cambodia,
and transforming our country into a new-type colony. The coup d’état of March 18, 1970, engineered
by the American imperialists, brutally destroyed the independence, peace and neutrality of our country.
That is why, responding to the historic call made by Head of State Samdech Norodom Sihanouk on
March 23, 1970, the Khmer people, deeply adhering to these ideas and to their traditions, rose en
masse to carry out political, armed and all other forms of struggle against the American imperialists,
their satellites (particularly those of South Viet Nam) and their Cambodian flunkeys headed by Lon Nol
and Sirik Matak. In these circumstances, desiring to develop the five-point declaration of Samdech, the
Head of State, the NUFK proposes the following tasks: Unite and mobilize all social classes and strata,
all political parties, all professional or religious organizations, and all patriotic personages either at
home or abroad, irrespective of their political opinion, sex or religious belief, so as to safeguard
Cambodia’s national independence, peace, neutrality and territorial integrity within her present
frontiers, oppose American imperialist schemes and aggression, and overthrow the fascist and
racist dictatorship of the American imperialists’ flunkeys headed by Lon Nol and Sirik Matak.

Welcome as brothers the masses of the people, and all functionaries, policemen, officers, non-comm-
issioned officers and men in the armed forces of the Lon Nol-Sirik Matak clique, intellectuals, students
and other personages, who have decided to join the NUFK. Those who, for various reasons, cannot as
yet join the NUFK but oppose the American imperialists and their flunkeys can coordinate their efforts
with those of the NUFK, and they will also be welcomed with understanding by the NUFK. As the American
aggression against Cambodia is a component of the plan for the expansion of the war which the American
imperialists are losing in South Viet Nam and Laos, the NUFK coordinates its struggle with that of the
fraternal peoples of Viet Nam and Laos on the principle that the liberation and defence of each country
are the affairs of its own people, and that mutual support among the three peoples must be based on
mutual respect and the legitimate aspirations of each people concerned. Create and strengthen the
National Liberation Army (NLA) comprising guerrilla units, partisans, those elements in the Royal Khmer
Army who refuse to submit to the dictatorship of Lon Nol and Sirik Matak, and those elements in the
mercenary troops of the traitors who decide in the future to join the ranks of the NLA. The mission of
the NLA is to destroy to the maximum the enemy armed forces and to defend and expand the liberated
areas, the solid rear for our struggle. In the course of struggle, the NLA must develop the spirit of
patriotism, raise its political level and foster utter devotion to the cause of the people. Those army
units now serving the reactionary regime, which for various reasons cannot join the NLA at present
but which are struggling against the American imperialists, can coordinate their actions with those
of the NLA in striking at the American imperialists and their flunkeys.

Severely punish the reactionaries guilty of crimes against the people, but show leniency to those crim
-inals who have sincerely repented. The wounded and the prisoners of war will be looked after and
treated humanely. PART TWO BUILD A DEMOCRATIC AND PROSPEROUS CAMBODIA The Cam-
bodian people are unanimously determined to liberate the country from the dictatorship of Lon Nol and
Sirik Matak, valets of the American imperialists, and from all other forms of American imperialist domination.
The Cambodian society, which will be established in the liberated zone and then in the whole country,
will be rid of all defects impeding its rapid and full bloom: the elimination of depraving customs, corruption,
all sorts of illicit trading, smuggling and means of inhuman exploitation of the people. The NUFK declares
that “power is, and will always be, in the hands of the progressive, industrious and genuine working people
who will ensure our motherland a bright future on the basis of social justice, equality and fraternity among
all the Khmers” (Solemn Declaration of Samdech, Head of State, on March 23, 1970). The people are the
source of all power. The democratization of Cambodian society is being carried out in the liberated zone
at present and will be carried out in the whole country later in the following ways: Guarantee to all Cambodians,
except traitors known to the country, the freedom of vote, the freedom of standing for election, the freedom
of speech, the press, opinion, association, demonstration, residence, travel at home and going abroad, etc.
Safeguard the inviolability of the person, property, wealth and privacy of correspondence. Guarantee
effective equality to both sexes, strive to wipe out backward traditions discriminating against women.
Encourage by all means the cultural and professional development of women to enable them fully to
participate in the common struggle. Give primary importance to training and educating women cadres
at all levels in the national life. Abolish polygamy.

Buddhism is and will remain the State religion. But the NUFK recognizes and guarantees the freedom of
all other religions and beliefs: Islam, Brahmanism, the beliefs of the Khmer Loeu, Catholicism, Protestant
-ism, Caodaism, etc. Places of worship are protected. Look after with the greatest solicitude the needs
of our disabled servicemen and the families of our fighters who gave their lives for the country, and reserve
privileged treatment for them. Ensure the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of foreign nationals
who respect our laws and customs, the independence and sovereignty of Cambodia. See to it that the legit
-imate rights and interests of the minority nationalities and Cambodian nationals living abroad are respected.
The NUFK is devoted to building up and developing an independent national economy by relying principally
on the resources and productive forces of Cambodia. This economic policy finds concrete expression in:
Freeing the national economy from persons who engage in profiteering, smuggling, black-marketeering
and inhuman exploitation of the people. Protecting and guaranteeing the rights of ownership of land and
property in accordance with the laws of the state. Confiscating the land and property of traitors who are
active accomplices in the pay of the American imperialists and who have committed crimes against the
people. The land and property seized will be distributed among the needy peasants. Guaranteeing to the
peasants the right of ownership of the land they cultivate. Establishing a fair system on land rent and rates
of interest on loans. Helping the peasants resolve the agrarian problem through a fair solution of unreasonable
debts. Helping the peasants increase production and labour productivity. Protecting and developing coop
-eration and the good customs of mutual aid in the countryside. Ensuring conditions of safe and rational
management and ensuring the marketing and economical transportation of products.

Encouraging the formation of trade unions. Guaranteeing security of employment and reasonable rem
uneration to the labouring classes. Improving working conditions. Ensuring a system of social insurance.
Developing the industrialization of the country and carrying out a rational industrial policy so that product
-ion will meet the principal needs of the people to the maximum. Studying adequate measures for the
elimination of faults in the administration of state or joint enterprises. Encouraging the national bourgeoisie
to run well and set up enterprises beneficial to the people in conformity with the laws concerning wage
-earners. Ensuring rational and uninterrupted sale of manufactured goods. Helping the handicraftsmen
raise labour productivity and diversify their products and ensuring the sale of their products under the
best conditions. Developing communication lines and the means of transportation. Safeguarding the
interests of school and university students, intellectuals and functionaries; providing employment for
those without occupation and the unemployed in accordance with their ability and helping them develop
further their ability to serve the motherland. Maintaining the nationalization of the banks and foreign trade.
With regard to foreign trade, encouraging and developing exports, limiting imports to equipment and
products necessary to the national economy. Protecting national products from foreign competition.
Safeguarding the purchasing power of the riel and paying attention to improving public finance. Along
-side the democratization and the realization of the above-mentioned economic policies, the NUFK pays
attention to the training of persons capable of correctly applying these objectives. The policy of the
NUFK concerning education and culture is based on the following points: Develop the good traditions
of the Angkor civilization handed down to us. Build a national culture on the basis of patriotism, love
for work well done, and love for art. Protect historical relics and monuments.

Khmerize gradually the curricula for the different stages of education, including higher education. Adopt the
national language as the sole official language in the public services. Adapt the educational programmes
and methods to the needs of the country. Encourage and assist scientific research and experimentation
and encourage the efforts of those who wish to deepen their studies. Promote research in our national history,
which is often distorted by foreign authors, and include our national history in the educational programmes.
Ensure continuous education through regular school terms or practical training. Develop pre-school education:
nurseries, kindergartens and pre-school classes. Ensure free education and provide scholarships for needy
children and youth. Ensure and support an extensive political, civic and cultural education among the people
and the youth. Help every citizen realize his duties to himself, to society and to the people. Instil actively
the ideas of public interest and love for service to the community and of making himself useful to the people.
This political, civic and cultural education should be carried out at all levels, in the ministries, public services
and administrations, factories, shops, cooperatives, in the capital, provinces, districts, villages and families.
Develop the ideas of morality, honour, national dignity, patriotism, mutual aid, usefulness of collective labour,
the sense and nobleness of rendering sacrifices for the people’s cause, the spirit of working conscientiously
and practising economy, and the respect for public property. PART THREE FOREIGN POLICY The foreign
policy of the NUFK is one of national independence, peace, neutrality, non-alignment, solidarity and friendship
with all peace-loving and justice-loving peoples and governments. The NUFK maintains relations of friendship
and cooperation with all countries according to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the spirit of
the Charter of the United Nations, irrespective of their political system and ideology.

It will not participate in any military alliance, nor does it allow any foreign country to set up military bases or
station troops and military personnel on the territory of Cambodia for the purpose of aggression against other
countries. The NUFK does not accept the protection of any country or of any military alliance. In the common
struggle against American imperialism, the NUFK pursues a policy of friendship, militant solidarity and coop
-eration with Laos and Viet Nam according to the principle that the liberation and the defence of each country
are the affair of her own people and that the three peoples pledge to do their best to support one another
according to the desire of the interested country on the basis of mutual respect. In addition, Cambodia is
ready to make concerted efforts with Laos and Viet Nam to make Indochina genuinely a zone of independence,
peace and progress, where each nation preserves its integral sovereignty, with the sympathy and support
of the peoples and governments of the socialist countries, non-aligned countries and peace-loving and
justice-loving countries in the world, including the American people. The NUFK expresses full support for
the struggle of the peoples of the world for peace, independence, democracy and social progress, against the
aggressive and warlike American imperialists, against old and new colonialism in all its forms. It expresses
full support for the struggle of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America for independence and freedom,
the struggle of the Chinese people for the recovery of Taiwan, an integral part of the People’s Republic of
China, the struggle of the Korean people against the American imperialist aggressors and for the liberation
of the southern part of their country and the reunification of Korea, the struggle of the Arab people, the
Palestinian people in particular, for their fundamental national rights against the Israeli aggressors in the
pay of the American imperialists, the struggle of the American people against the war of aggression,
against racial discrimination and for peace and their genuine interests, etc.

The Khmer people, under the leadership of the NUFK, are prepared to make all sacrifices to win final victory
over the American imperialists and their lackeys, the Lon Nol-Sirik Matak clique, for the present struggle is
decisive to the freedom and dignity of our future generations and is essential to the independence, freedom
and progress of the peoples of Indochina and the rest of the world. In this spirit, the NUFK pays warm tribute
to the political organizations, the various religious and cultural organizations, patriots and progressives who
have approved or will approve the five-point Declaration of Samdech, Head of State, dated March 23, 1970,
and who have joined or will join the organizations of the NUFK or remain outside these organizations to fight
against the aggression of the American imperialists and their local flunkeys. For its part, the NUFK strengthens
and unfolds political activities with a view to raising the patriotic level and the determination of the Khmer
people in the current struggle for national salvation. Our whole people will certainly rise like one man to
march gloriously towards final victory over the American aggressors and the Lon Nol-Sirik Matak clique
in their pay. The NUFK will certainly prove itself worthy of the confidence and sympathy of all the Khmer
patriots and their foreign friends in the world. Long live the NUFK! Long live independent, peaceful, neutral,
democratic and prosperous Cambodia!