Khmer Rouge

The Khmer Rouge was a radical communist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot. Their…

By Staff , in Cambodia , at September 24, 2024 Tags: cambodia

Find Cheap Textbooks - Save on New & Used Textbooks at AbeBooks.com

The Khmer Rouge was a radical communist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot. Their time in power is notorious for one of the most brutal genocides of the 20th century, during which an estimated 1.7 to 2 million Cambodians—about a quarter of the population—died due to starvation, forced labor, disease, and mass executions. The Khmer Rouge sought to transform Cambodia into an agrarian socialist society, but their extreme policies led to widespread devastation.

Origins of the Khmer Rouge
Communist Movement in Cambodia:
The roots of the Khmer Rouge can be traced to Cambodia’s involvement in the broader Indochina conflict and the rise of communism in the region. Cambodia had been a French colony and gained independence in 1953, but like neighboring Vietnam and Laos, it was influenced by communist insurgencies.
In the 1950s, Cambodian students in Paris became exposed to Marxist and communist ideas, including Saloth Sar, who would later be known as Pol Pot. These students eventually returned to Cambodia, where they formed a revolutionary group.

Formation of the Khmer Rouge:
The Khmer Rouge officially began as the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) in the early 1960s. Initially, it was a small group, but it gained strength during the political instability of the 1960s and early 1970s. Cambodia’s then-leader, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, tried to maintain neutrality in the Vietnam War, but tensions escalated as North Vietnamese troops used Cambodia as a sanctuary, and U.S. forces launched bombings in Cambodia to target the Vietnamese.
In 1970, a coup led by General Lon Nol ousted Sihanouk and established a pro-U.S. government. Sihanouk then aligned himself with the Khmer Rouge, hoping to regain power. The Khmer Rouge, backed by North Vietnam and China, waged a guerrilla war against Lon Nol’s regime throughout the early 1970s.

Civil War and the Fall of Phnom Penh:
From 1970 to 1975, Cambodia was engulfed in a brutal civil war between the Khmer Rouge and Lon Nol’s forces. The U.S. bombing campaign (1969–1973) and ongoing fighting caused significant damage to Cambodia’s infrastructure and civilian population.
On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge captured the capital, Phnom Penh, marking the end of the civil war and the beginning of their reign of terror.

The Khmer Rouge Regime (1975–1979)
Pol Pot’s Vision of Agrarian Communism:
After seizing power, the Khmer Rouge, under Pol Pot’s leadership, sought to establish a radical form of agrarian socialism inspired by Maoist ideas. Their ultimate goal was to transform Cambodia, renamed Democratic Kampuchea, into a self-sufficient, classless society based on peasant farming. Pol Pot believed that cities, intellectuals, and modern industry were corrupt and that a return to a rural, agrarian lifestyle was essential for revolution.
The regime forcibly evacuated Phnom Penh and other cities, sending the entire urban population to work in the countryside in collective farms and labor camps. This forced relocation was devastating, as urban dwellers were unprepared for the harsh rural conditions.

Policies of Brutality:
The Khmer Rouge imposed an extreme form of collectivization. Private property, religion, currency, and markets were abolished, and all citizens were required to wear identical clothing and work in communal fields. Schools, hospitals, and factories were shut down, and intellectuals, professionals, and perceived enemies of the regime were targeted for execution.
The Khmer Rouge labeled people into categories such as “new people” (urban residents) and “base people” (rural peasants), with the former being viewed with suspicion and often persecuted.

Genocide and Mass Killings:
The Khmer Rouge’s brutal rule led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2 million people through starvation, forced labor, disease, and executions. Those deemed “enemies” of the regime—including intellectuals, former government officials, religious leaders, and ethnic minorities—were systematically murdered. Even wearing glasses or speaking a foreign language could result in being accused of being an intellectual and executed.
The Khmer Rouge’s secret police, known as the Santebal, carried out mass arrests and executions. The most infamous site of mass killings was Tuol Sleng (S-21) Prison in Phnom Penh, where thousands were tortured and later killed at the Killing Fields, mass grave sites where victims were executed and buried.

Isolationism:
Pol Pot’s regime sought to cut Cambodia off from the outside world. Foreign aid and influence were rejected, and Cambodia became isolated internationally. The Khmer Rouge sought a strict, self-sufficient economy, rejecting foreign aid and trade.

The Fall of the Khmer Rouge
Conflict with Vietnam:
Despite being fellow communist countries, relations between Cambodia and Vietnam deteriorated. Pol Pot’s regime was deeply nationalist and feared Vietnamese influence. Skirmishes along the Cambodia-Vietnam border escalated into full-scale conflict by 1978, with the Khmer Rouge launching attacks into Vietnam.
In response, Vietnam launched a military invasion in December 1978, quickly overwhelming the Khmer Rouge forces. On January 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces captured Phnom Penh, and the Khmer Rouge was forced to retreat to the jungles along the Thai border. Pol Pot and other leaders fled the capital.

Aftermath and Civil Conflict:
After the fall of Phnom Penh, Vietnam established a pro-Vietnamese government in Cambodia, known as the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. However, the Khmer Rouge continued to operate as a guerrilla force in the rural areas, waging an insurgency throughout the 1980s, supported covertly by China and some Western countries as part of Cold War geopolitics.
The United Nations continued to recognize the Khmer Rouge as Cambodia’s official government until a peace agreement was reached in the early 1990s.

The Legacy of the Khmer Rouge
The Paris Peace Accords (1991):
In 1991, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, officially ending the Cambodian conflict. The accords allowed for the United Nations to administer elections in Cambodia and establish peace. A new government was formed, and Norodom Sihanouk returned as king in 1993.

Khmer Rouge Trials:
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal, formally known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), was established in 2006 to bring the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders to justice for crimes against humanity and genocide.
Key Khmer Rouge leaders were put on trial, including Kaing Guek Eav (Duch), the head of the Tuol Sleng prison, who was convicted in 2010. Nuon Chea, Pol Pot’s deputy, and Khieu Samphan, the former head of state, were also convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity in 2018.
Pol Pot died in 1998 before he could be brought to trial.

Cambodia’s Recovery:
Cambodia’s recovery from the Khmer Rouge era has been slow and difficult. The destruction of the country’s intellectual class, infrastructure, and economy during the Khmer Rouge years left deep scars. The regime’s brutal policies created a legacy of trauma, loss, and underdevelopment that Cambodia has worked hard to overcome.
The psychological and social impact of the Khmer Rouge era lingers, with many survivors and their families still dealing with the trauma of the genocide.