The Cambodian Genocide Genocide? Or Politicide?

The Killing Fields Context of the Vietnam War Communist Khmer Rouge Revolt against Prince Sihanouk Battle between Socialism and radical communism Fear of outside intervention

Causes of the Genocide US Bombing in Vietnam continues after US withdrawal. Some missions stray into Cambodia Animosity between the disenfranchised and the tiny wealthy elite Civil War rages in Cambodia between Government forces and the Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge Takes Power Mostly made up of young people from the rural parts of Cambodia Little to no discipline among the ranks Factions form to claim power, causing strife throughout its time in power

Back to Year Zero When any group gains total control of a country, they can change the way that it is run. When the Khmer Rouge gained control of Cambodia, they wanted to have a new society and to ignore the past. To start off, Pol Pot renumbered 1975 as Year Zero of the new era.

Year Zero Once he was in power, what did Pol Pot try to create in Cambodia? The Khmer Rouge arriving in Phnom Penh. Western culture is seen as being Capitalist. Why would Pol Pot have wanted to rid Cambodia of Western influences and Capitalism?

New Lives Year Zero What happened to the people who lived in Cambodia’s cities? Where did they go? What did they do when they got there? People being forced from the cities.

Harsh Life Life became so harsh that thousands of people died of the farms from overwork, malnutrition and disease. The Khmer Rouge told Cambodians “whether you live or die is not of great significance.”

Purges What does it mean if a government conducts a purge?  Which groups did Pol Pot try to purge from Cambodian society?  Why would he have chosen these groups?  What other methods did the Khmer Rouge use to change society?

Deaths When the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia, the population was What percentage of the population died or left Cambodia? In 1979 the Vietnamese gained control of Cambodia. Thus ending the Genocide A mass grave in Cambodia. The exact number of deaths can never be calculated.

The Impact on People’s Lives Destruction of the educated class created a problem for recovery How is this genocide different from others we have studied?

Justice in Cambodia Following Pol Pot’s death, Trials of leading Khmer Rouge leaders possible Extraordinary Chambers (ECCC) Most war criminals still not prosecuted