The Cambodian Genocide By: Max Kelly

Background Info  Before 1975, Cambodia was under the rule of Prince Norodom Sihanouk  In the 1960’s, the Khmer Rouge, a small group led by Pol Pot, launched a rebellion against Prince Sihanouk  Prince Sihanouk is overthrown in 1970 by his military leaders  Before 1975, Cambodia was under the rule of Prince Norodom Sihanouk  In the 1960’s, the Khmer Rouge, a small group led by Pol Pot, launched a rebellion against Prince Sihanouk  Prince Sihanouk is overthrown in 1970 by his military leaders

Background Info Cont…  On April 17th, 1975, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge overthrow the Cambodian government  Within days, the regime had set up their government and forced everyone in the cities to evacuate to the farmlands  On April 17th, 1975, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge overthrow the Cambodian government  Within days, the regime had set up their government and forced everyone in the cities to evacuate to the farmlands

Khmer Rouge Beliefs  They wanted to completely reconstruct Cambodia, declaring the day they gained power as “Year Zero”  They believed that the whole nation had to be a collection of farms  All educated people were to be killed  Everyone from the cities must move to rural areas to farm  They wanted to completely reconstruct Cambodia, declaring the day they gained power as “Year Zero”  They believed that the whole nation had to be a collection of farms  All educated people were to be killed  Everyone from the cities must move to rural areas to farm

The Genocide  The killing began with the people that did not evacuate the cities fast enough  Next, they banned religion and started wiping out monks and temples  The Khmer Rouge tried to wipe out anyone that represented the old society  The killing began with the people that did not evacuate the cities fast enough  Next, they banned religion and started wiping out monks and temples  The Khmer Rouge tried to wipe out anyone that represented the old society

Minorities Targeted  The Khmer Rouge targeted:  Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, or any Cambodians with ancestry from these countries  Half of the Cham Muslim population was wiped out along with 8,000 Christians  The Khmer Rouge targeted:  Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, or any Cambodians with ancestry from these countries  Half of the Cham Muslim population was wiped out along with 8,000 Christians

Fear From Within  Pol Pot became increasingly paranoid, constantly thinking that his own men were going to turn against him  He had hundreds of high ranking leaders tortured and killed, along with their followers  Pol Pot became increasingly paranoid, constantly thinking that his own men were going to turn against him  He had hundreds of high ranking leaders tortured and killed, along with their followers

Killing Fields  Everyone that survived the initial slaughter were forced to work in labor camps known as “killing fields”  People died from:  Exhaustion, Malnutrition and Disease  Everyone that survived the initial slaughter were forced to work in labor camps known as “killing fields”  People died from:  Exhaustion, Malnutrition and Disease

Killing Fields Cont…  Workers began working at 4 AM and worked until 10 PM, only having two break periods throughout the day  They were not allowed to eat any of the crops that they produced  The Workers were rationed one tin of rice per every two days  Workers began working at 4 AM and worked until 10 PM, only having two break periods throughout the day  They were not allowed to eat any of the crops that they produced  The Workers were rationed one tin of rice per every two days

The End  On Christmas day 1978, Vietnamese troops invaded the capital city of Phnom Penh forcing the Khmer Rouge to flee to the forests  Although the Khmer Rouge would still be around for another fifteen years, the Genocide was over  On Christmas day 1978, Vietnamese troops invaded the capital city of Phnom Penh forcing the Khmer Rouge to flee to the forests  Although the Khmer Rouge would still be around for another fifteen years, the Genocide was over

The Aftermath  In all, around 2 million people lost their lives throughout a four year span  Country is led by former Khmer Rouge defectors  Economic struggles  No Foreign aid  All professionals have been killed by the Khmer Rouge  In all, around 2 million people lost their lives throughout a four year span  Country is led by former Khmer Rouge defectors  Economic struggles  No Foreign aid  All professionals have been killed by the Khmer Rouge

US Involvement  US backed the coup that put Prince Sihanouk out of power  Cambodian government lost US support in 1975, so Pot Pol decided to make his move while the government was weak  US covertly backed the Khmer Rouge in the 1980’s because they both did not like Vietnam  US backed the coup that put Prince Sihanouk out of power  Cambodian government lost US support in 1975, so Pot Pol decided to make his move while the government was weak  US covertly backed the Khmer Rouge in the 1980’s because they both did not like Vietnam

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