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Introduction
In 1945, Cambodia underwent a brief lapse of French rule as World War II exhausted French abilities. Contrary to French thought, Sihanouk served as a clever ruler and made ties with other countries in an effort to gain more control over Cambodia. -
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Cambodia wins its independence from France. Under King Sihanouk, it becomes the Kingdom of Cambodia. -
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Sihanouk’s father dies. Sihanouk the prince, becomes head of state. -
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Sihanouk breaks off relations with the US and allows North Vietnamese guerrillas to set up bases in Cambodia in pursuance of their campaign against the US-backed government in South Vietnam. -
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The US starts a secret bombing run against North Vietnamese forces on Cambodian soil. -
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Prime minister Lon Nol overthrows Sihanouk in coup. He proclaims the Khmer Republic and sends the army to fight to the North Vietnamese in Cambodia. Sihanouk - in exile in china - forms a guerrilla movement. Over next few years the Cambodian army loses territory against the North Vietnamese and communist Khmer Rouge guerrillas. -
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Lon Nol is overthrown as the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot occupy Phnom Penh. Sihanouk briefly becomes head of state, the country is re-named Kampuchea. -
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Fighting breaks out with Vietnam -
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Hun Sen becomes prime minister. Cambodia is plagued by guerrilla warfare. Hundreds of thousands become refugees. -
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A peace agreement signed in Paris. A UN transitional authority shares power temporarily with representatives of the various factions in Cambodia. Sihanouk becomes head of state. -
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Hun Sen mounts a coup against the prime minister, prince ranariddh, and replaces him with uno hour. The coup attracts international condemnation. Khmer Rouge put Pol Pot on trial and sentence him to life imprisonment. -
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A law setting up a tribunal to bring genocide charges against Khmer Rouge leaders is passed. International donors, encouraged by reform efforts, pledge $560 million in aid. -
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After nearly a yaear of political deadlock, Prime minister Hun Sen is re-elected after CPP strikes s deal with the royalist Funcinpec party. Parliament ratifies kingdom's entry into World Trade Organisation (WTO). King Sihanouk abdicates and is succeeded by his son Norodom Sihamoni. -
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Rainsy is convicted in absentia of defaming Hun Sen and is sentenced to 18 months in prison. -
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Rainey receives a royal pardon and returns home -
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2 Cambodian soldiers die in an exchange of fire with Thai troops in the disputed area. -
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King Norodom Sihanouk dies in after being king for around 60 years -
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Rainey returned home after 8 years of exile -
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Tens of thousands of people go to see the cremation of the former king Norodom Sihanouk. -
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Recurring protests in support of higher wages, land rights or greater political freedom are brutally dealt with.