The Cambodian genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge during the 1970's and their affiliation with Mao Zedong's Socialist China.
By Adrian_heto
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A new King in Cambodia:
Amidst the great Conflict that was the WW2, France (who was who controlled Cambodia at that time) choose 18 year old Norodom Sihanouk as the leader for the Camboyean People (while the French opereated in the shadows) -
Japan controlled over Cambodia
Japanese forces entered Cambodia as part of their campaign to dominate Southeast Asia. However, Japan allowed the French government (who collaborated with Nazi Germany) to continue administering Cambodia as part of French domain. This arrangement was part of Japan's strategy to maintain nominal control over the region while keeping local colonial powers in place to manage day-to-day governance. -
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Prelude to the Conflicts and the Independence of Cambodia
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End of WW2, and Cambodian Independence
In March 1945, Japan declared Cambodia independent to gain local support, but this was short-lived as Japan surrendered later that year, and French colonial rule was reinstated. -
France and Cambodia after WW2
France grants Cambodia limited self-governance, allowing the creation of a constitution and the establishment of political parties.
This is the beginning of Cambodia’s gradual path toward full independence. -
Cold War and Tensions across the world
The Cold War began to influence South Asia, including Cambodia. As tensions between communism and Western powers escalated, Cambodia’s strategic importance grew. -
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The path of Cambodia to Full Independence and the Cold War
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Foundation of the Cambodian People´s (Communist) Party
The Khmer Cambodian People's Party (KPRP), the concept before of the Khmer Rouge, was founded in 1951 with the backing of the Vietnamese communists. This would later play a crucial role in the rise of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. -
Cambodia gains full Independence from France
After years of negotiation, Cambodia achieved full independence from France. Sihanouk’s was celebrated as a national hero. Cambodia was now a fully independent kingdom under his leadership. -
Sihanouk Forms Sangkum Party
In a surprising political move Sihanouk abdicated the throne in favor of his father, to focus on political leadership. He formed a new political movement called the Sangkum Reastr Niyum a political party that would dominate Cambodian politics. That same year were the first national elections in Cambodia and Sihanouk party won, thus cementing his control over the country. -
Cambodia Internal Reforms
Sihanouk remained neutral in foreign affairs, maintaining relationships with both Western and communist powers. He sought economic assistance from countries like the U.S., the Soviet Union, and China, positioning Cambodia as a neutral actor in the Cold War. -
Rising Political tension
Despite his political dominance, opposition to Sihanouk's rule began to grow. The Democratic Party, a rival political faction, criticized his authoritarian style and lack of democratic freedoms. And started to do something to reduce the power of Sihanoul -
Assassination attempts on Sihanouk
In 1959, there were several assassination attempts against Sihanouk, including one linked to the South Vietnamese government.
In response, Sihanouk launched a crackdown on political opposition, accusing communists and rival political groups of plotting against him. This marked the beginning of a more authoritarian phase in Sihanouk’s rule. -
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Cambodia tension through the Cold War
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Death of Norodom Suramarit
King Norodom Suramarit, Sihanouk’s father, died. Instead of taking the throne again, Norodom Sihanouk took the title of "Head of State" and remained the dominant figure in Cambodian politics. He still focused on navigating Cambodia’s neutrality during the Cold War. -
Assassination of Norodom Yuvaneath
Prince Norodom Yuvaneath, a prominent Cambodian opposition leader, was assassinated. This assassination, created a political discontent and contributed to rising tensions within Cambodia. -
Boom of the Khemer Rouge
During this period, Cambodia's People´s Party, known as the Khmer Rouge, began to grow in strength, motivated by rural dissatisfaction with Sihanouk’s increasingly authoritarian rule and the influence of Vietnam’s communist movement. -
Sihanouk gets closer to Socialist countries
Sihanouk began to align Cambodia more closely with China and the Soviet Union, receiving economic aid and military supplies from these communist powers. This also marked the beginning of Sihanouk’s delicate balancing act between his relationships with the West and communist powers. -
Sihanouk Allows North Vietnamese to Use Cambodian Territory
Suprisingly Sihanouk allowed North Vietnamese forces to use Cambodian territory for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This decision was part of Sihanouk's effort to maintain neutrality while protecting Cambodia from direct conflict. But United States, saw Cambodia as aiding the enemy in the Vietnam War. -
Samlat Uprising
The Samlaut Uprising occurred in the Battambang province, a peasant rebellion against government oppression and bad economic conditions. The rebellion marked a turning point as the Khmer Rouge used this discontent to gain support in rural areas. -
Growing Khmer Rouge Power
The Khmer Rouge, initially a small and relatively weak communist movement, began to grow as they capitalized on the resentment of peasants and intellectuals frustrated with Sihanouk’s rule. -
Khmer Rouge Officially Launches Armed Rebellion
The Khmer Rouge officially launched its armed rebellion against the Cambodian government. Led by Pol Pot, they began organizing attacks on Cambodian military and the government.
This marked the beginning of the civil war between the Cambodian government and the Khmer Rouge, though the conflict would intensify in the following years. -
U.S bombs Cambodia
In 1969 The U.S. initiated Operation Menu a secret bombing campaign to stop Ho Chi Minh. And in the following years, the U.S. would drop more than 500,000 tons of bombs on Cambodia, mainly in the eastern rural areas near the Vietnamese border. This was done to disrupt Vietnamese operations in Cambodia, so people start to sympathise into the arms of the Khmer Rouge. This destabilization caused by the bombings contributed to Sihanouk’s eventual downfall. -
Sihanouk exile
Sihanouk went exiled to China, where he formed an alliance with the Khmer Rouge (Cambodian communists), despite previously opposing them. This alliance was strategic, as Sihanouk had lost control of his country and wanted support to regain power.
But the coup triggered the Cambodian Civil War, with military forces fighting against the Khmer Rouge and North Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge took advantage and used Sihanouk's popular support to strengthen their influence, especially in rural areas. -
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The downfall of Cambodia (before the Genocide)
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Sihanouk is put aside and the Khmer Republic is Established
While Sihanouk was on a diplomatic trip in the USSR, he was overthrown in a U.S.-backed coup, by the head of the Cambodian military. The coup was supported by right-wing factions within Cambodia, including conservative politicians and anti-communist forces. Lon Nol (the one who lead the coup) declared Cambodia the Khmer Republic and abolished the monarchy. His government aligned with the U.S in the Vietnam War, opposing the North Vietnamese who were using Cambodia as a base of operations. -
U.S keep bombing
In that period the U.S wanted to target Vietnamese communist forces using Cambodian territory. So they bombed them particularly in the eastern part of Cambodia, somenthing that caused massive destruction. The bombings killed North Vietnamese forces and destroyed Cambodian villages, destroying crops, homes, and infrastructure.
So the people in Cambodia turned to the Khmer Rouge for protection and as a force capable of resisting the foreign intervention. This way Cambodian joined the Khmer Rouge -
U.S Withdrawal and a destroyed Cambodia
In 1973 the U.S retired from Vietnam, giving North Vietnam the victory, but despite that the civil war in Cambodia continued, and Lon Nol’s forces found themselves increasingly outmatched by the growing strength of the Khmer Rouge. -
The Khmer Rouge Captures Phnom Penh
The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, captured Cambodia’s capital, after a 5 year civil war. Lon Nol fled the country, and the Rouge quickly took control of the country. Pol Pot immediately began implementing their vision for Cambodia transforming it into an agrarian socialist utopia. Their goal was to dismantle Cambodian society and rebuild it as a classless, agrarian state free from external influences. This involved: Abolishing money, sending people to the countryside and killing politcal enemies. -
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The Cambodian Genocide and Maoist China’s Influence
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Mao´s influence on Cambodia
China, under Mao Zedong, becomes the Khmer Rouge's main ally, providing military aid, financial support, and advisors. The regime follows Maoist principles, including radical agricultural reforms, which cause widespread starving and suffering. -
Cambodia Genocide and casualities.
The Khmer Rouge carries out mass purges of perceived enemies. China continues to back the Khmer Rouge, seeing them as a counterbalance to Soviet-backed Vietnam.
While the Khmer Rouge killed an aproximate of 1.7 and 2 million people, who included Cambodians, Vietnamiese and Chinese (surprisingly) -
Liberation in Cambodia
Vietnam invades Cambodia, toppling the Khmer Rouge regime. China, in retaliation, launches the Sino-Vietnamese War but does not directly intervene in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge retreats to the Thai border, continuing guerrilla warfare with Chinese backing. While leaving mines in the Singapourean border (that till this day leaves death people) -
Political aftermath
In 82, the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) forms as an anti-Vietnamese alliance. The coalition includes the Khmer Rouge, Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s royalist faction, and the non-communist Khmer People's National Liberation Front. Despite the Khmer Rouge’s horrific crimes, they are part of this coalition, united by opposition to Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia. -
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Aftermath of the Genocide
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Vietnamese Military Offensives
Vietnam launches major military offensives in 1984 and 1985 to crush the Khmer Rouge and other factions operating in the border areas. -
Peace Negotiations Begin
International pressure mounts for a political solution to the Cambodian conflict.
Vietnam, facing economic difficulties, begins to withdraw its troops from Cambodia in 1989.
Meanwhile, the Khmer Rouge continues to hold power in certain areas of the country.
While later in September the PRK is renamed the State of Cambodia as part of efforts to rebrand the government in anticipation of peace talks. -
Peace accord
The Paris Peace Accords are signed, marking the official end of the Cambodian-Vietnamese War. The Khmer Rouge remains a destabilizing force but agrees to a ceasefire. While in December the USSR changes and becomes Rusia again, ending the Cold War conflict -
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End of the Khmer Rouge and the Cold War
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Pol pot loss of power
Pol Pot loses control of the Khmer Rouge as factionalism weakens the movement. Many Khmer Rouge leaders surrender to the government. And get apprenhed by United Nations, where they tell the horrible crimes they comitted -
Pol Pot Dies
Pol Pot dies under mysterious circumstances while under house arrest by his own forces. Leaving a tragic destiny to his country during the 70´s where he killed 1/4 of the country and created one of the worst genocides of the 20th century