Raising the Champa Flag on Po Rome Tower (Nik Mustafa)
Author: Putra Podam
In category History
Feb 26, 2026, 4:48 AM
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In modern Champa history, there are events that were never recorded in official documents and never appeared in contemporary newspapers, yet they endure vividly in collective memory as symbols of courage, intellect, and the aspiration for freedom. The raising of the FULRO Champa flag atop Po Rome Tower (Nik Mustafa) in 1972 was one such event. The architect behind this plan was Les Kosem (Haji Les Kosem), alias Po Nagar, a Cham of Cambodian origin and a senior officer in the Cambodian army. He played an important role in the Second Indochina War and the Cambodian civil conflicts, and was a prominent leader of the FULRO movement. Between 1964 and 1975, Les Kosem was among the most influential figures on the Indochinese political stage, particularly within the struggles of indigenous peoples, including the Champa nation.