Cambodia From the depths of the Killing Fields

Cambodia: early 20 th century French Colony from mid 1850’s until 1953 French Colony from mid 1850’s until 1953 Occupied by Japanese in WWII Occupied by Japanese in WWII Ruled by a Monarchy – King Sihanouk – after independence Ruled by a Monarchy – King Sihanouk – after independence Nation and Government divided during the 1960’s (anti-colonialism and reaction to Vietnam) Nation and Government divided during the 1960’s (anti-colonialism and reaction to Vietnam) Attempt to stay neutral Attempt to stay neutral North Vietnamese Soldiers at bases in Cambodia North Vietnamese Soldiers at bases in Cambodia Coup against Sihanouk in 1970 by US friendly General Lon Nol Coup against Sihanouk in 1970 by US friendly General Lon Nol Cambodia caught in the middle between US and North Vietnam – “Side Show” Cambodia caught in the middle between US and North Vietnam – “Side Show”

King Sihanouk as head of State and pictured with Hu Nim(L) and Son Sen (R) of the Khmer Rouge. Saloth Sar, aka Pol Pot General Lon Nol

: The Growing Crisis Continued disunity in the government Continued disunity in the government North Vietnamese extended military presence in Cambodia North Vietnamese extended military presence in Cambodia US sent military advisors to help Lon Nol government US sent military advisors to help Lon Nol government Khmer Rouge expanded control surrounding the capital Phnom Penh Khmer Rouge expanded control surrounding the capital Phnom Penh US carpet bombed Cambodia US carpet bombed Cambodia Khmer Rouge took total control – April 17, 1975 Khmer Rouge took total control – April 17, 1975 Lon Nol government surrendered Lon Nol government surrendered

Operation Breakfast: US Carpet Bombing Campaign in Cambodia 4 years of carpet bombing, 540,000 tons of explosives, up to 500,000 deaths

The Khmer Rouge Communist ideology Communist ideology Aided by Soviets, North Vietnamese and Chinese Aided by Soviets, North Vietnamese and Chinese Notion of a pure Cambodia free of Western Imperialist influences Notion of a pure Cambodia free of Western Imperialist influences Goals: Goals: –create a Utopian Agrarian Society –Wipe out all memory of past influences including family ties, religion, art, music, education, western imperialism, currency and technology  Result was millions of deaths from famine, disease, and brutality

Images of Khmer Rouge invasion of Phnom Penh and the evacuation of the US Embassy

The Killing Fields The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated all of Cambodia’s cities The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated all of Cambodia’s cities Millions of people flooded to the countryside to work in forced labor camps growing rice and digging irrigation ditches Millions of people flooded to the countryside to work in forced labor camps growing rice and digging irrigation ditches Anyone considered an enemy of the Angkor (the party) was tortured and killed Anyone considered an enemy of the Angkor (the party) was tortured and killed Artists, Musicians, Teachers, Office Workers, Former Military and Government Personnel, Journalists, Buddhist Monks were targets of persecution Artists, Musicians, Teachers, Office Workers, Former Military and Government Personnel, Journalists, Buddhist Monks were targets of persecution The families and children of these “enemies” were also targets The families and children of these “enemies” were also targets Most notorious prison was a former school call Tuol Sleng (S-21 in Phnom Penh) Most notorious prison was a former school call Tuol Sleng (S-21 in Phnom Penh)

Forced labor camp near Battambang, Cambodia

Over 2 million Cambodians died in the Genocide of the Killing Fields out of a population of 7.3 million

Tuol Sleng Prison and images from the Killing Fields

Border conflicts and ideological differences led to a Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978 Border conflicts and ideological differences led to a Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978 Khmer Rouge fell in January, 1979 Khmer Rouge fell in January, 1979 Huge refugee influx over the Thai border – UN and Red Cross relief effort Huge refugee influx over the Thai border – UN and Red Cross relief effort US and China now gave their support to the Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk in opposition to the Vietnamese installed government in Cambodia US and China now gave their support to the Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk in opposition to the Vietnamese installed government in Cambodia This prolonged the conflict, allowed the Khmer Rouge to regain power and led to a brutal civil war This prolonged the conflict, allowed the Khmer Rouge to regain power and led to a brutal civil war

1992-present UN peacekeeping forces arrived in 1992 to supervise a revival of the monarchy – Sihanouk back in power shared with his son and Hun Sen as prime minister UN peacekeeping forces arrived in 1992 to supervise a revival of the monarchy – Sihanouk back in power shared with his son and Hun Sen as prime minister US distances itself from Khmer Rouge US distances itself from Khmer Rouge Relations improve and US pledges to help bring perpetrators of genocide to justice Relations improve and US pledges to help bring perpetrators of genocide to justice Disagreements over War Crimes Tribunal delayed the process Disagreements over War Crimes Tribunal delayed the process Prosecutors filed initial charges in July, 2007 and the trials are ongoing Prosecutors filed initial charges in July, 2007 and the trials are ongoing Landmines continue to be a problem – killing and maiming hundreds of civilians every year Landmines continue to be a problem – killing and maiming hundreds of civilians every year

Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Only senior leaders in the Khmer Rouge will be put on trial Punishment will be life in prison to 5 years in prison – no death penalty The government of Cambodia will not seek amnesty or pardons for those found guilty of crimes against humanity Thousands of perpetrators are currently walking free and living with and among their victims Pol Pot died in 1998 of natural causes & will not be put on trial posthumously