Son Sen
In August 1996 senior Khmer Rouge official Ieng Sary defected from the KR with two armed divisions and the formation of his own party, the Democratic National Union Movement, which in turn encouraged more defections from the KR as Pol Pot ordered the assassinations of Son Sen (which was successful) and Ta Mok (which was not.) In mid-June 1997 Khieu Samphan (who had by now founded the Khmer National Solidarity Party) denounced Pol Pot and began discussing demobilization and a return to civilian life.