Heng Samrin

Samdech Heng Samrin ( born May 25, 1934) is a Cambodian politician and since 2006 President of the National Assembly.

Heng was born as the son of poor peasants - according to different representations either in Prey Veng province, or in the province of Kampong Cham. In 1959 he joined the Communist Party and the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot. Initially he was battalion commander of the guerrilla army from 1976 to 1978, political adviser to the 4th Division in the east of the country. Due to the general suspicion of Pol Pot against all squads on the eastern border to have an alliance with Vietnam, and the subsequent executions of tens of thousands Khmer Rouge fighters he fled in May 1978 together with the officer Chea Sim to Vietnam.

In December 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and captured after two weeks the majority of the country, including the deserted capital of Phnom Penh. In January 1979, the Vietnamese occupying power Heng installed as chairman of the People's Revolutionary Council of the new People's Republic of Kampuchea, later as its president, a post he retained until 1991, although its political significance under Prime Minister Hun Sen fell sharply from 1985.

1981 Heng Secretary General of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP ). He remained in the party but without personal power base and was replaced by Chea Sim 1991.

Heng in 1998 Vice- President of the National Assembly and was followed in May 2006, Prince Norodom Ranariddh on his post as President of the National Assembly.

In July 2009, Heng was awarded the rank of honorary doctor of Jeonju University in South Korea.