Khmer Rouge

Bullet holes at angkor wat

Bomb craters in Cambodia

Photos of victims in Tuol Sleng prison

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Khmer Rouge Victims

Thảm sát

Khmer Rouge refers to the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) and by extension, the regime through which they ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The regime, led by Pol Pot, sought to transform Cambodia into a rural, classless society by forcibly relocating the urban population to the countryside to work on collective farms and projects. The Khmer Rouge's radical policies, including the forced evacuation of cities, the abolition of currency, and the targeting of perceived enemies, led to widespread atrocities, including mass executions, forced labor, and malnutrition.

History

The origins of the Khmer Rouge can be traced back to the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, when it emerged as a guerrilla movement fighting against the Cambodian government, then under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. With the support of the Viet Cong, North Vietnam, and later China, the Khmer Rouge grew in strength and influence. In 1970, following a coup that deposed Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge entered into a political coalition with him and intensified their insurgency against the new pro-American government led by Lon Nol.

By 1975, the Khmer Rouge had gained control of the majority of the country and on April 17, declared victory over the Lon Nol government, marking the beginning of their rule over Cambodia. Immediately, they began implementing their radical Maoist and Marxist-Leninist agenda, which aimed at creating a self-sufficient, agrarian society. This led to the forced evacuation of cities, the destruction of religious and cultural institutions, and the establishment of brutal work camps.

Policies and Atrocities

Under the Khmer Rouge, basic freedoms and rights were abolished. Education, religion, and private property were outlawed. The regime targeted various groups for persecution, including intellectuals, religious figures, ethnic minorities, and those suspected of having connections to former government or foreign governments. The infamous Tuol Sleng prison, also known as S-21, symbolizes the regime's brutality, where thousands of men, women, and children were tortured and killed.

The Khmer Rouge's policies led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2 million people, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population at the time, through execution, forced labor, malnutrition, and disease. This period is often referred to as the Cambodian genocide.

Fall and Aftermath

The regime's fall began in late 1978 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia, leading to the capture of Phnom Penh in January 1979 and the establishment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, effectively ending the Khmer Rouge's rule. However, remnants of the Khmer Rouge continued to operate in remote areas and fought a guerrilla war against the Vietnamese-backed government throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.

In 1997, Pol Pot was arrested by his own party and died in 1998. Efforts to bring Khmer Rouge leaders to justice culminated in the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a tribunal created in 2006 to prosecute the most senior responsible members of the Khmer Rouge for their crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

Legacy

The legacy of the Khmer Rouge era continues to impact Cambodia, from the trauma experienced by survivors to the ongoing quest for justice. The regime's radical experiment in social engineering left deep scars on the Cambodian landscape and psyche, shaping the nation's history and memory.

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