1. Cambodia’s Killing Fields

2. Questions
Provide a summary of the Cambodian Killing Fields (historical time lines, the main players in the conflict and its impact on the country)
Present the KEY reasons that led to the conflict becoming full-blown.
Identify the most important reason(s) OTHER THAN RACE in this conflict.

3. Map of Cambodia

4. Towards Year Zero
1953 – Cambodia gains independence from 90 years of French colonization
1965 – King Sihanouk of Cambodia “breaks off relations” with US
Sihanouk kept a small army to prevent coups and could not defend Cambodia against North Vietnamese
Allows North Vietnamese guerillas (Communist) to set up bases on Cambodian soil against US-backed government in South Vietnam (Capitalist)

5. Towards Year Zero
1969 – The US bombs North Vietnamese forces in Cambodia
1970 – Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and General Lon Nol assumed power
His government assumed Pro-Western and Anti-Communist stance
Lon Nol sends army to fight North Vietnamese in Cambodia, supporting American military involvement

6. Who is Pol Pot? Born- “Saloth Sar” 1925-1998
Earned a scholarship to study in France
While in Paris, he joined a communist cell
Returned to Cambodia in 1953 after failing
out of school
Becomes leader of the underground
communist party; helps to develop the
Khmer Rouge ideology

7. Who are the Khmer Rouge?
“Red Khmer”-Khmer is the majority ethnic group in Cambodia
Cambodia’s communist party.
Differs from true Marxism
K.R. believe that rural peasant farmers are the true proletariat, not factory workers
Cambodia would have to be taken back to the year Zero in order to purge the country of western influence
Goal was to create a utopian communist society

8. Towards Year Zero 1975 – Lon Nol was overthrown
facing a 2-way attack from Khmer Rouge and North Vietnamese
Supported by the Chinese, North Vietnamese Communists and Sihanouk.
April 17, 1975 – Khmer Rouge marched into Phnom Penh unopposed
Implement plans for utopian communist society
Day Zero where 2000 years of Khmer history became meaningless

9. Khmer Rouge Years To create Utopian Communist Society
Phnom Penh was evacuated to the countryside
Khmer Rouge believes cities are tools of capitalism
All should live and work in the countryside as peasants

10. Khmer Rouge Years Isolate country from foreign influence
Close schools, hospitals and factories
Abolished banking, finance and currency
Outlawed all religions
Confiscated all private properties
Most importantly- abolish the family unit. Only the children were considered pure!

11. Khmer Rouge Years Government arrested, tortured and executed
Anyone connected to former government
Professionals and intellectuals (bespectacled)
Ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodia Christians, Muslims and Buddhist Monks, ethnic Chams
Homosexuals
Former urban dwellers who were incapable of farming
“To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss”

13. Khmer Rouge Years - Numbers
Estimated of 850,000 to 3 million deaths
Commonly between 1.4m to 2.2m deaths
20% - 30% of population
By execution, starvation and forced labor
158 prisons
209 mass-grave sites, with 19,000 grave pits
10 m mines left, one for each Cambodian

15. Khmer Rouge Years - Numbers
Tuol Sleng (S-21 Prison)
Highest single day execution
582 persons
May 27, 1978
At least 14,000 imprisoned
7 known survivors
Victims includemany women
2,000 children

16. The End of the Genocide
In 1979, Cambodia invades Vietnam in order to “reclaim lost lands”
The Vietnamese gain the upper hand and push into Cambodia, deposing Pol Pot and install a pro- Vietnamese dictator.
The Cambodian Genocide comes to an end
The U.S. refused to help bring the genocide to an end because:
There would be no support from the American people.
They were partially responsible for causing the instability that led to Pol Pot coming to power
It was communists fighting communists

17. Key Reasons Capitalism vs Communism (Cold War) Vietnam War spillover
Rise of Khmer Rouge
US secret bombing of Vietnamese communists in Cambodian land on March 18, 1969
Peasants’ detest for Lon Nol and American campaign
Support from China, Vietnamese communists and Sihanuok
Khmer Rouge’s idealistic Communist rule

18. Other than Race, what? Politics Ideology
Make sure no opposition/uprising
Kill educated people
Destroy past political powers
Terrorize the people through torture and execution
Eradicate religions to prevent gatherings
Ideology
Extreme insistence on Communist utopia
Equality within the people
All people work on the fields

19. References
pacific/country_profiles/ stm