Son Sann
In May 1977 he flew to Paris and helped to organize a political group in cooperation with non-communist resistance forces under former Prime Minister Son Sann. On 1 February 1979, Dien Del flew to Thailand to form the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF). Nguon Pythoureth followed and the two went from one refugee camp to another on the Thai-Cambodian border, persuading local leaders to join forces. By mid-1979 the KPNLAF consisted of about 1,600 soldiers. On 9 October 1979 this group became the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) under Son Sann, and General Dien Del was appointed Chief of the General Staff.