World Issues: A Singapore Perspective

Questions

Provide a summary of the Cambodian Killing Fields. It may be useful to include things such as historical time lines, a profile of the main players in the conflict and its impact on the country.

Using what you had learnt from your group's research, present the KEY reasons that led to the conflict becoming full-blown.

What do you think were the most important reason OTHER THAN RACE in this conflict.

What were your group's thoughts/opinions after having done this research. You can also comment on any thing/point that you had unearth that you can link to your understanding of our society here in Singapore.

Short Video

Cambodia Khmer Rouge 1975 to 1979http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDcwLPSHTo

Towards Year Zero

1953 – Cambodia gains independence from 90 years of French colonisation

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)

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

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

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

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

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 Homosexuals Former urban dwellers who were incapable

of farming “To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is

no loss”

Khmer Rouge Years - Numbers Estimated of 850,000 to 3 million deaths

Commonly between 1.4m to 2.2m deaths 20% - 30% of population then By execution, starvation and forced labour

158 prisons 209 mass-grave sites, with 19,000 grave

pits 10 m mines left, one for each Cambodian

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 Many women 2,000 children

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

Other than Race, what?

Politics Make sure no opposition/uprising

Kill educated people Destroy past political powers Terrorise 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

Thoughts & Opinions

Strong and able leadership Push progress into the country

Comparing Singapore and Cambodia’s progress after gaining their independence

Maintain neutrality Unlike Sihanuok who balanced between

Vietcong and the US However, neutrality only theoretically

possible Ability to look far

Make policies accordingly to build country economically and socially

Thoughts & Opinions

Protect country’s sovereignty Prevent similar situations where Sihanuok

could not fend himself from Viet Commies setting bases on Cambodian soils and maintaining Cambodia’s neutrality

Maintaining strong armed forces like NS Regional instability can spill over easily

How Vietnam War got into Cambodia Unrest in East Asia can affect Singapore We live in a Interdependent World

Thoughts & Opinions

Power to the People The people of the country can choose its

fate Cambodians chose Khmer Rouge Singaporeans chose PAP

The people can prevent the rise of tyrants through their support Shows the importance of each vote during

Elections Learn from history

Racial Harmony Day – Racial Riots Total Defence Day – Japanese Occupation

Short Video

Cambodian Genocide Little walk through S21 Prison

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C9tfGO2Oni0

References

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1244006.stm

http://www.mekong.net/cambodia/index.htm

http://www.edwebproject.org/sideshow/