The Rise of the Khmer Rouge

Cambodia

Before the FrenchDuring the 1800s, the

Khmer kingdom was weak and under threat from Vietnam and Thailand.

1884- the French had taken over. The King had ceremonial powers and Cambodia became one of the protectorates of the French Indochinese Federation.

WW2King Norodom Sihanouk renounced France

at the insistence of Japan.Khmer Issarak (Free Khmer) emerged as an

Independence Movement, gaining support from students, public servants and workers.

Conducted guerilla warfare against the French.

The Viet Minh helped Khmer Issarak to develop an organisational base.

1954The Geneva Conference

gave complete independence to Cambodia.

Foreign troops were prohibited to enter Cambodia.

Norodom Sihanouk renounced his throne and took up politics, being elected Prime Minister.

Sihanouk’s GoalTo preserve neutrality.Foster relations between communists and

non-communists.Decline the South East Asian Treaty

Organisation (SEATO) which was distinctly anti-communist.

Accept military and developmental aid from China and the Soviet Union.

Co-operate with trade and economy with China and the Soviet Union.

U.S. RelationsConcerned with

Cambodia’s developing relations with the communist giants.

Gave support to Khmer Serai guerillas.

1966, all aid and diplomatic relations ceased with Cambodia.

Cambodia reached certain agreements with the North Vietnamese.

Shattered the economy.

Sihanouk became increasingly unpopular.

1970 coup against Sihanouk, which he believed had the backing of the CIA

Khmer RepublicLon Nol, the Minister for Defence, led a

coup d’etat against Sihanouk.Had little support among the population.Suffered attacks from the rural peasants

and the Khmer Rouge (Communists)Sustained a civil war that lasted 5 years.

Civil WarLon Nol ordered the Vietnamese out of

Cambodia.Communist forces defeated the Cambodian

army.US and ARVN troops invaded in April 1970 in

support of Lon Nol.Large scale bombing caused terrible

damage.10% (600,000) of the population were killed.1/3rd of the peasant population became

refugees.

F.U.N.KSihanouk retained

nationwide support and helped fund the National United Front of Kampuchea.

Contained support from the King’s supporters and local communists.

The Khmer Rouge grew in strength as the war continued.

3000 people in 1971 to 60,000 in 1973.

Pol Pot declared Sihanouk; Commander in Chief.

The Khmer Rouge enter Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge enter Phnom Penh

Democratic Kampuchea1975

Khmer Rouge and loyal Sihanouk forces took control of most of the nation.

17th April: Phnom Penh was taken by the Khmer Rouge.

The threat of famine and epidemics caused the Khmer Rouge to instigate a mass exodus of the urban population.

2 million people were moved.

The Effect of the Khmer RougeCambodia became a

huge labour camp.Wished to change

society back to a pre-industrial rural economy.

Believed that Western technology and civilisation had ‘poisoned’ Cambodia

The Effect of the Khmer RougeAgriculture was of

extreme importance and everyone had to work on collective farms.

Run with military discipline.

Families were separated.People were told that

they should be docile and do the will of the Angkor (party)

Vietnam InvadesKhmer Rouge were

nationalistic and were antagonistic towards the US and Vietnam.

Saw the 1973 ceasefire as a betrayal, especially when the US increased its bombing of Cambodia.

Vietnamese communists ceased aid to the Khmer Rouge.

The armies of Democratic Kampuchea responded by attacking Vietnamese borders in 1977.

Vietnam InvadesCombined force of the NVA and ARVN

invaded Kampuchea in December 1978.Quickly ousted the Khmer Rouge

government.What remained of the Khmer Rouge fled to

the Thai border.