Sok An facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency
Samdech Vibol Panha Sok An
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| សុខ អាន | |
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| Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers | |
| In office 16 July 2004 – 15 March 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bin Chhin (Acting) |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia | |
| In office 16 July 2004 – 15 March 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Member of Parliament for Takéo |
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| In office 14 June 1993 – 15 March 2017 |
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| Succeeded by | Chea Vandeth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1950 Kirivong, Takéo, Cambodia, French Indochina |
| Died | 15 March 2017 (aged 66) Beijing, China |
| Political party | Cambodian People's Party |
| Spouse | Theng Ay Annie |
| Children | Sok Soma Sok Puthyvuth Sok Sokan Sok Soken Sok Sangvar |
| Alma mater | Royal University of Phnom Penh |
| Profession | Politician, academic |
Sok An (Khmer: សុខ អាន; 16 April 1950 – 15 March 2017) was an important Cambodian politician and scholar. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Office of the Council of Ministers from 2004 until he passed away. He first joined the government in 1993. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Takéo Province and a key member of the Cambodian People's Party.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Samdech Vibol Panha Sok An was born on April 16, 1950. His family lived in Kampong village, located in Kirivong district, Takeo province. His family was Hakka Chinese Cambodian. He was married to Lok Chumteav Annie Sok An, and they had five children together.
Sok An's Education Journey
An finished his high school education in 1967. After that, he became a high school teacher. In 1969, he was chosen to be the principal of a high school in Kirivong.
Higher Education and Diplomas
He continued his studies at the École Normale Supérieure in Phnom Penh. In 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree in Geography, History, and Sociology. The same year, he also received a High Diploma in Pedagogy. From 1973 to 1975, he attended a special training program. This program was for high-ranking officials in Diplomacy at the National School of Administration. In 2006, he received an honorary doctorate degree in Political Science from The University of Cambodia.
His Career in Government
Sok An had a long and important career in the Cambodian government. He started working in foreign affairs and then moved into various leadership roles.
Early Roles in Diplomacy
In 1980, An worked as a personal secretary for Hun Sen. Hun Sen was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at that time. In 1981, An became the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. By 1983, he was named Secretary-General of the Cambodian National Peace Council.
In 1985, he served as Cambodia's Ambassador to India. When he returned to Cambodia in 1988, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Moving into National Leadership
In 1991, he became Deputy Minister of Interior. He also served as Secretary General of the Supreme National Council. This council was involved in the peace process in Cambodia.
After the 1993 general election, he was elected to the National Assembly. He became a Member of Parliament for Takeo. He was then assigned as Minister in charge of the government office. In 1998, he became the Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers. He was promoted to Senior Minister in 1998 and then to Deputy Prime Minister in 2004.
Key Responsibilities as Deputy Prime Minister
As Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An oversaw many important areas. He led the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. This group was created in 2003 to improve education in Cambodia. It worked to standardize university studies and create a foundation year for students.
He also chaired the Council of the Board of Engineers of Cambodia. He guided this organization during a time of growth in Cambodia. In 2012, he was honored by the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations.
Sok An was actively involved in talks with neighboring countries. These talks aimed to solve border issues and develop oil and gas resources. He also helped find solutions during political disagreements within Cambodia.
He held many other important positions, including:
- Chairman of the Council for Administrative Reform
- Chairman of the Council for Demobilization of Armed Forces
- Co-chairman of the Council for Legal and Judicial Reform
- Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO
- Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA)
- Chairman of the Board of Royal School of Administration
- Chairman of the Board of the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions
- Deputy Chairman of the National Authority in charge of Border Affairs
- Chairman of the Board of the Royal Academy of Cambodia
Recognitions and Awards
Sok An received many honors for his work. He was recognized for his efforts in peace, international cooperation, and Cambodia's development. Some of his honorary doctorates include:
- Law from Wesleyan College (USA) in 1996
- Public Administration from Jeonju University (Republic of Korea) in 2005
- Political Sciences from the University of Cambodia in 2006
- Tourism Management from National Economics University, Vietnam
- Public Policy and Management from Chamroeun University of Poly-Technology, Cambodia, in 2007
- Education from the National University of the Philippines in 2008
- Political Diplomacy from Woosuk University, Republic of Korea, in 2010
He also became a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences in 2002.
Helping Cambodia's Heritage
Sok An was deeply involved in protecting Cambodia's cultural heritage. He served as President of the APSARA National Authority. This government body manages the 40,000-hectare Park of Angkor. This park is a World Heritage Site.
He worked to balance conservation needs with development. From the mid-1990s until his death, the APSARA National Authority received over US$500 million. These funds came from various countries and international groups. They supported about 70 projects at Angkor.
Preserving Prasat Preah Vihear
In 2007, Sok An led the Cambodian delegation at the World Heritage Committee meeting. He gained much experience from his active role there. During this meeting, the Committee recognized the importance of the Prasat Preah Vihear temple. They agreed it should be added to the World Heritage List. This led to its official inscription in 2008.
Sok An's Political Party Work
Sok An was a key figure in the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). In 1991, he was the Director of Cabinet for the CPP's Central Committee. He became a member of the CPP’s central committee in July 1992. By January 1996, he was a standing committee member of the party.
In July 2010, he was elected to the Standing Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). This happened at a meeting in Kunming, China. In September 2014, he was chosen as the Vice-President of the Standing Committee in Sri Lanka. Later, in 2015, he became the Chairman of the ICAPP Cultural Council. In 2013, he was named Senior Vice President of Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI).
His Passing
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Sok An passed away on March 15, 2017, in Beijing, China. He was 66 years old. He had taken a short leave from his duties in December 2016 to receive medical treatment. At the time of his death, he had diabetes and other health issues.
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