-
Independence
Cambodia officially gained its independence from France. -
King Suramarit Dies
King Norodom Suramarit died, Sihanouk became head of state. -
Ties with South Vietnam
Cambodia severed ties with South Vietnam. -
Ties With the US
Cambodia officially cut ties with the US. -
US Bombing
American B-52s began carpet-bombing eastern Cambodia. -
Last Rail Line
North Vietnamese troops cut the last operating rail line in Cambodia. -
Fighting with Vietnam
Fighting breaks out with Vietnam. -
Guerrillas Surrender
Thousands of Khmer Rouge guerrillas surrender in government amnesty. -
New Party is Formed
Deputy leader of Khmer Rouge Ieng Sary forms a new party and is granted amnesty by Sihanouk. -
Life Imprisonment
Hun Sen mounts a coup against the prime minister, Prince Ranariddh, and replaces him with Ung Huot. The coup attracts international condemnation. The Khmer Rouge put Pol Pot on trial and sentence him to life imprisonment. -
Pol Pot Dies
Pol Pot dies in his jungle hideout. -
Pardoned by the King
Prince Ranariddh is tried in his absence and found guilty of arms smuggling, but is then pardoned by the king. -
Conviction
US-based Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) members convicted of 2000 attack in Phnom Penh. Group pledges to continue the campaign to overthrow Hun Sen -
Royal Pardon
Rainsy receives a royal pardon and returns home. -
Parliament
Parliament votes to abolish prison terms for defamation. -
Trial
Former Khmer Rouge leader Kaing Guek Eav known as Duch goes on trial on charges of presiding over the murder and torture of thousands of people as head of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison camp. -
35 Years in Prison
Comrade Duch is found guilty of crimes against humanity and given a 35-year prison sentence. -
Exchanging Fire
Tensions rise as Cambodia charges two Thai citizens with spying after they were arrested for crossing the disputed border. Respective forces exchange fire across the border. Hun Sen calls for UN peacekeepers. -
Protests
Mass protests in Phnom Penh over contested election results. Parliament approves new five-year term for Hun Sen. Opposition boycotts opening of parliament. -
Riot Police
Riot police clear a two-week opposition protest camp held in Phnom Penh as part of a long-running campaign launched against the government after the disputed 2013 election. -