The Khmer Rouge were able to take power in Cambodia in 1975 because they were provided

with enormous funds by the People's Republic of China, according to King Father Norodom

Sihanouk.

He was responding to a statement by Prince Sisowath Thomico that although his new

party had few resources, state power was within its grasp, as it had been for the

Khmer Rouge in 1975.

"The Khmer Rouge didn't have any money, yet they won the war, and on April 17,

1975, state power," Sihanouk reported Thomico as saying.

"Today I will say this," Sihanouk said in response. "The Khmer Rouge

were very rich. The People's Republic of China gave them a lot of money.

"The Khmer Rouge had an enormous amount of US dollars with which they could

buy from the LonNolien-Repubican Khmers weapons, munitions, medicines, etc.

"The Khmer Rouge had cadre and leaders possessing martial art skills, the 'science'

and 'the technique' of guerrilla [warfare], thanks to the People's Republic of China

and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. And this latter transported for them (Khmer

Rouge) by the Ho Chi Minh Trail, without disruption, weapons, amunition, etc, offered

by the PRC.

"My conclusion: I don't see very well how the example of the Khmer Rouge could

be useful to the party of Sisowath Thomico in the 2008 elections."

After his overthrow by Lon Nol and Sisowath Sirik Matak on March 18, 1970, Sihanouk

became President of the Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea, a front

led by the Khmer Rouge and backed by China. After the Khmer Rouge took power, Sihanouk

was briefly nominal head of state.