Cambodian Genocide The Khmer Rouge Regime. Map Of Cambodia

Cambodian GenocideCambodian GenocideThe Khmer Rouge The Khmer Rouge

RegimeRegime

Map Of CambodiaMap Of Cambodia

History of Cambodian GenocideHistory of Cambodian Genocide

In 1953, Cambodia gained In 1953, Cambodia gained independence after nearly 100 years independence after nearly 100 years of French ruleof French rule Vietnam also defeated the French for Vietnam also defeated the French for

their independence in 1954their independence in 1954 Prince Norodom Sihanouk took charge of Prince Norodom Sihanouk took charge of

the newly born state.the newly born state.


Prince Sihanouk alienated the U.S.:Prince Sihanouk alienated the U.S.: Struck up friendship with China, America’s Struck up friendship with China, America’s

foefoe Irritated President Nixon by trying to keep Irritated President Nixon by trying to keep

Cambodia neutral in the war with VietnamCambodia neutral in the war with Vietnam U.S. backed Lon NolU.S. backed Lon Nol

Pro-American, but also corrupt, repressive, Pro-American, but also corrupt, repressive, and incompetentand incompetent

Was able to temporarily dispel the Was able to temporarily dispel the government in 1970.government in 1970.


Prince Sihanouk went on to found the Prince Sihanouk went on to found the Royal Government of National Union Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea (GRUNK). of Kampuchea (GRUNK). This government boasted of many This government boasted of many

neutralists like the Prince and many neutralists like the Prince and many non-Communists who eventually non-Communists who eventually deflected to form the Khmer Rouge deflected to form the Khmer Rouge

Lon Nol now faced enemies of anti-Lon Nol now faced enemies of anti-communists and the Khmer Rougecommunists and the Khmer Rouge


A year earlier, 1969, President Nixon A year earlier, 1969, President Nixon expanded the war into Cambodiaexpanded the war into Cambodia

In April of 1970, he sends in ground In April of 1970, he sends in ground troops to clean out North Vietnamese troops to clean out North Vietnamese Communists in CambodiaCommunists in Cambodia


The U.S. ground invasion occurred at The U.S. ground invasion occurred at the beginning of Cambodia’s 5 year the beginning of Cambodia’s 5 year civil warcivil war One one side was Lon Nol and the U.S.One one side was Lon Nol and the U.S. The other side were Vietnamese The other side were Vietnamese

Communists and the radical Cambodian Communists and the radical Cambodian Communist Revolutionaries, the Khmer Communist Revolutionaries, the Khmer Rouge, or Red KhamerRouge, or Red Khamer


U.S. bombings in Cambodia were a U.S. bombings in Cambodia were a derivative of U.S. designs on Vietnam derivative of U.S. designs on Vietnam so when the U.S. troops withdrew so when the U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam in 1973, the bombings from Vietnam in 1973, the bombings in Cambodia were harder to justify.in Cambodia were harder to justify.

U.S. bombings were resented by the U.S. bombings were resented by the Cambodians and were drawn to the Cambodians and were drawn to the promise of peace by the Khmer promise of peace by the Khmer RougeRouge

Pol PotPol Pot He and his army, called the Khmer He and his army, called the Khmer

Rouge, came to power in Rouge, came to power in Cambodia in 1975.Cambodia in 1975.

He was named prime minister of He was named prime minister of the new communist government in the new communist government in 1976 and began a program of 1976 and began a program of violet reform. violet reform.

In hope of creating a society free In hope of creating a society free of western influence, he abolished of western influence, he abolished religion, institute, private property religion, institute, private property and evacuated cities.and evacuated cities.

Under his regime, forced labor, Under his regime, forced labor, execution and famine killed ~2 execution and famine killed ~2 million Cambodians. million Cambodians.


Diplomats, journalists, and Diplomats, journalists, and Cambodians speculated about Khmer Cambodians speculated about Khmer Rouge intentions before they actually Rouge intentions before they actually seized power.seized power.

The omens of imminent mass violence The omens of imminent mass violence were there, but largely dismissed.were there, but largely dismissed.

Elizabeth Becker, wrote a full-length Elizabeth Becker, wrote a full-length feature for on the Khmer Rouge for feature for on the Khmer Rouge for the Washington Post in March 1974.the Washington Post in March 1974.


The Toll of Cambodia’s 5 year civil The Toll of Cambodia’s 5 year civil war had been immensewar had been immense 1 million Cambodians had been killed1 million Cambodians had been killed Many were displaced, causing the capital Many were displaced, causing the capital

to swell from 600,000 to 2 million by 1975to swell from 600,000 to 2 million by 1975 Many believed the KR atrocities were Many believed the KR atrocities were

just a part of war, not their ideologyjust a part of war, not their ideology Lon Nol only promised more of the Lon Nol only promised more of the

same and a U.S. backing.same and a U.S. backing.

History of Cambodian GenocideHistory of Cambodian Genocide April 12, 1945, President Ford orders the April 12, 1945, President Ford orders the

American departureAmerican departure April 17, 1945, the Khmer Rouge April 17, 1945, the Khmer Rouge

captured Phnom Penh and seized the captured Phnom Penh and seized the government.government. Order everyone to leave the capitalOrder everyone to leave the capital

KR claims US B-52’s are going to bomb the capitalKR claims US B-52’s are going to bomb the capital Knew they couldn’t feed the number of Knew they couldn’t feed the number of

people in the swollen capital so force them to people in the swollen capital so force them to move closer to food sources move closer to food sources

Slashed tires of cars so they had to travel on footSlashed tires of cars so they had to travel on foot

History of Cambodian GenocideHistory of Cambodian Genocide 1975 was deemed year zero1975 was deemed year zero attempted to turn Cambodia into a attempted to turn Cambodia into a

classless society by depopulating cities classless society by depopulating cities and forcing the urban population into and forcing the urban population into agricultural communesagricultural communes

Enemies were: ethnic Vietnamese, Enemies were: ethnic Vietnamese, ethnic Chinese, Muslim chams, ethnic Chinese, Muslim chams, Buddhist monks, intellectuals (anyone Buddhist monks, intellectuals (anyone completing 7completing 7thth grade), anyone grade), anyone suspected of even momentary suspected of even momentary disloyaltydisloyalty


Once reporters departed, the last Once reporters departed, the last independent sources of information independent sources of information dried updried up

For the next three and a half years, For the next three and a half years, the American public would piece the American public would piece together a picture of life behind the together a picture of life behind the Khmer curtainKhmer curtain

History of the Cambodian History of the Cambodian GenocideGenocide

May 1975, President Ford announced May 1975, President Ford announced that 80-90 Cambodian officials and that 80-90 Cambodian officials and their spouses have been executed.their spouses have been executed.

American administration had little American administration had little credibilitycredibility

It would be 2 years before most It would be 2 years before most would acknowledge that this time the would acknowledge that this time the bloodbath reports were true.bloodbath reports were true.


With embassy closed and journalists With embassy closed and journalists cut off, information was hard to cut off, information was hard to obtain.obtain.

The “Southwest Asia fatigue” from The “Southwest Asia fatigue” from Vietnam compounded the problemVietnam compounded the problem

Received very little newspaper or Received very little newspaper or television coveragetelevision coverage


Americans clung to the few public Americans clung to the few public statements of senior KR officials who statements of senior KR officials who consistently refuted the claimsconsistently refuted the claims

Even Amnesty International, the Even Amnesty International, the largest human rights organization in largest human rights organization in the world, was not yet ready to the world, was not yet ready to respond forcifully. respond forcifully.


Many came around once they had Many came around once they had personal contact with traumatized personal contact with traumatized refugees.refugees.

The first photographs were not The first photographs were not smuggled out until April of 1977. smuggled out until April of 1977.


Those who tried to generate press Those who tried to generate press coverage did so assuming that coverage did so assuming that establishing the facts would establishing the facts would empower the United States and other empower the United States and other Western governments to act.Western governments to act.


Vietnam invades Cambodia on Dec. Vietnam invades Cambodia on Dec. 25, 1978 and seizes Phnom Penh on 25, 1978 and seizes Phnom Penh on Jan. 7, 1979. Jan. 7, 1979.

Vietnam establishes the People's Vietnam establishes the People's Republic of Kampuchea Republic of Kampuchea


The Khmer Rouge were overthrown and The Khmer Rouge were overthrown and sent into a retreatsent into a retreat They receive aid from the United States as well They receive aid from the United States as well

as hang on to the official Cambodian seat in as hang on to the official Cambodian seat in the United Nationsthe United Nations

Struggles continue as China supports Struggles continue as China supports and provides arms to the Khmer and provides arms to the Khmer Rouge and Russia supports a fully Rouge and Russia supports a fully Communist VietnamCommunist Vietnam


Upon seizing the country, Upon seizing the country, Vietnamese find evidence of mass Vietnamese find evidence of mass murder everywhere.murder everywhere.

The Tuol Sleng Examination Center in The Tuol Sleng Examination Center in Phnom Penh, code named Office S-Phnom Penh, code named Office S-21, became an emblem of terror21, became an emblem of terror Found instructions for inmatesFound instructions for inmates Found an interrogators manualFound an interrogators manual Was turned into Tuol Sleng MusueumWas turned into Tuol Sleng Musueum

History of Cambodian GenocideHistory of Cambodian Genocide Torture center testified to the cruelty Torture center testified to the cruelty

of the KR regimeof the KR regime 1979 -The Vietnamese then installed 1979 -The Vietnamese then installed

a puppet government consisting of a puppet government consisting of Khmer Rouge defectors with Heng Khmer Rouge defectors with Heng Samrin as leaderSamrin as leader People’s Republic of Kampuchea People’s Republic of Kampuchea

The Khmer Rouge fought against the The Khmer Rouge fought against the newly appointed government with the newly appointed government with the help of US training, funds, weapons help of US training, funds, weapons


1989 Vietnamese troops withdraw from 1989 Vietnamese troops withdraw from CambodiaCambodia

Country is renamed the State of Country is renamed the State of CambodiaCambodia

Fighting continues for over a decade, Fighting continues for over a decade, before all political factions in Cambodia before all political factions in Cambodia sign a treaty in 1991 calling for sign a treaty in 1991 calling for elections and disarmament.elections and disarmament.

Fighting broke out again in 1992Fighting broke out again in 1992


1993- The monarchy is restored, Sihanouk 1993- The monarchy is restored, Sihanouk becomes king again. The country is re-named becomes king again. The country is re-named the Kingdom of Cambodia. The government-in-the Kingdom of Cambodia. The government-in-exile loses its seat at the UN.exile loses its seat at the UN.

1998- Pol Pot dies and is never brought to trial1998- Pol Pot dies and is never brought to trial 2004- 2004- Elderly King Sihanouk turns monarchy Elderly King Sihanouk turns monarchy

over to son, King Sihamoni, but real political over to son, King Sihamoni, but real political power is held by elected President Hun Sen, a power is held by elected President Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge officer.former Khmer Rouge officer.

2. Headlines from newspaper2. Headlines from newspaper

““Never Again the Khmer Never Again the Khmer RougeRouge””

New York Times, Oct 8 1988New York Times, Oct 8 1988

““Difficult to prove genocide Difficult to prove genocide in Cambodiain Cambodia’’s killing fieldss killing fields””

The Associated Press, The Associated Press, September 5 2000September 5 2000

3. Speech and quotes 3. Speech and quotes ““ I watched many I watched many

Cambodians friends being Cambodians friends being herded out of Phnom Penh. herded out of Phnom Penh. Most of them I never saw Most of them I never saw again. All of us felt like again. All of us felt like betrayers, like people who betrayers, like people who were protected and didnwere protected and didn’’t do t do enough to Phnom Penh when enough to Phnom Penh when the Khmer Rouger marched the Khmer Rouger marched in victorious in April save our in victorious in April save our friends. We felt shame. We friends. We felt shame. We still do.still do.””

a foreign journalist in 17th 1975

“ a number of people, many of them survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides risk oversimplification, and may lessen or even absolute guilt - a concern that is accentuated when perpetrators assert that they were ‘only obeying orders.’ “

Alexander Laban Hinton , author of Why did they kill?

7. Reporters and photojournalists 7. Reporters and photojournalists

Robert Bingham, Michael Robert Bingham, Michael Perkins, Jeff Apostolou, Perkins, Jeff Apostolou, Mark Norris, Don Riley, Mark Norris, Don Riley, David Chandler, Sara David Chandler, Sara Colm, Peter Maguire.Colm, Peter Maguire.

“The Photo Archive Group's work in

Cambodia benefited from the generous help of numerous

organizations and individuals, including Robert Bingham, Michael Perkins, Jeff Apostolou, Mark Norris,

Don Riley, David Chandler, Sara Colm, Peter Maguire, The Indochina Media Memorial Fund, Calumet Holdings Inc., The Saunders Group, Light Impressions, The Lucius and Eva

Eastman Fund”

8. Role of the UN8. Role of the UN ““United Nations administrative tribunal United Nations administrative tribunal

helps those people who lived under helps those people who lived under Cambodian genocide to seek for their Cambodian genocide to seek for their justice.justice.””

““The United Nations Peace building The United Nations Peace building Commission helps to ensure predictable Commission helps to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and financing for early recovery activities and sustained financial investment over the sustained financial investment over the medium- to longer-term.medium- to longer-term.””

9. Members of the UN9. Members of the UN ““Responding to the invitation of the Secretary-Responding to the invitation of the Secretary-

General, His Excellency Kofi Annan, a Cambodian General, His Excellency Kofi Annan, a Cambodian delegation led by His Excellency Sok An Senior delegation led by His Excellency Sok An Senior Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers has Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers has come to New York and has engaged in seven come to New York and has engaged in seven meetings - one with the Secretary-General himself, meetings - one with the Secretary-General himself, and six with representatives of the United Nations and six with representatives of the United Nations Secretariat, led by His Excellency Hans Corell, Legal Secretariat, led by His Excellency Hans Corell, Legal Counsel, preparing for a resumption of negotiations Counsel, preparing for a resumption of negotiations for Khmer Rouge Trials for these crimes, in for Khmer Rouge Trials for these crimes, in accordance with the General Assembly Resolution accordance with the General Assembly Resolution 57/288 of 18 December 2002.57/288 of 18 December 2002.””

Thomas Hammarberg is the representative for Thomas Hammarberg is the representative for Cambodia and was the one able to get the Cambodia and was the one able to get the Cambodian government to ask for help from the Cambodian government to ask for help from the United NationsUnited Nations

10. International communities’ 10. International communities’ response response

The process of justice for the genocide in The process of justice for the genocide in Cambodia started on June 21, 1997, when the Cambodia started on June 21, 1997, when the Cambodian co-prime ministers asked Cambodian co-prime ministers asked the United the United Nations to step in and help organize the Nations to step in and help organize the trials for those involved in the Khmer Rouge. trials for those involved in the Khmer Rouge.

In 1998 a group of experts was formed to examine In 1998 a group of experts was formed to examine the evidence, the law and different options of how the evidence, the law and different options of how to proceed with the trials of the Khmer Rouge. to proceed with the trials of the Khmer Rouge. This group worked from July 1998 until February This group worked from July 1998 until February 1999 looking at three different things: evaluating 1999 looking at three different things: evaluating the evidences and the crime, apprehending the evidences and the crime, apprehending people responsible, the different option for people responsible, the different option for bringing people to justice.bringing people to justice.

Symbolic emblemSymbolic emblem SR-21, a former school SR-21, a former school

was turned into a was turned into a torture factory during torture factory during the Cambodia genocide. the Cambodia genocide. Thousands of people Thousands of people who were sent here who were sent here would be given a would be given a number tag, as a number tag, as a symbol of recognition. symbol of recognition. Those people would Those people would later be tortured or later be tortured or executed. executed.

A total of 14,000 A total of 14,000 Cambodians were jailed Cambodians were jailed here and only 10 of here and only 10 of them survived.them survived.

Photos of prisoners with number tags on.

SummarySummary By 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime had killed around 2 million By 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime had killed around 2 million

people, which is about 30% of the population. The Khmer people, which is about 30% of the population. The Khmer Rouge was head by Saloth Sar, better known as Pol Pot. On Rouge was head by Saloth Sar, better known as Pol Pot. On April 17April 17thth 1975 the Khmer Rouge , a communist group led by 1975 the Khmer Rouge , a communist group led by Pol Pot, took power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.Pol Pot, took power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

The Khmer Rouge turned back the clock on Cambodia to The Khmer Rouge turned back the clock on Cambodia to more uncivilized times. Institutions such as stores, banks, more uncivilized times. Institutions such as stores, banks, hospitals, schools, religion and family were all banned. City hospitals, schools, religion and family were all banned. City dwellers were all forced to the countryside and to work in dwellers were all forced to the countryside and to work in labor camps. The citizens worked 12 to 14 hour days inside labor camps. The citizens worked 12 to 14 hour days inside the labor camps. the labor camps.

The Khmer Rouge targeted Buddhist monks, Western The Khmer Rouge targeted Buddhist monks, Western ––educated intellectuals, educated people in general, people educated intellectuals, educated people in general, people who had contact with Western countries, people who who had contact with Western countries, people who appeared to be intelligent (for example, individuals with appeared to be intelligent (for example, individuals with glasses), the cripple, the lame and ethnic minorities like glasses), the cripple, the lame and ethnic minorities like ethnic Laotians and Vietnams. ethnic Laotians and Vietnams.

BibliographyBibliographyBibliographyBibliography

Burie, Vongko. Burie, Vongko. ““ Then UN should be held Then UN should be held accountable in a major part of the accountable in a major part of the genocide in Cambodiagenocide in Cambodia””. Cambodian . Cambodian Information Center, on the web 28 Oct. Information Center, on the web 28 Oct. 2005. Oct. 29 2006. www.cambodia.org 2005. Oct. 29 2006. www.cambodia.org

Thul Chan,Park. Thul Chan,Park. ““commune Chiefs: Where commune Chiefs: Where Was the UN from 1975-1979?. The Was the UN from 1975-1979?. The Cambodia Daily. On the web 28 Jun. Oct. Cambodia Daily. On the web 28 Jun. Oct. 29 2006. www.genocidewatch.org 29 2006. www.genocidewatch.org

Maguire, Peter. Facing Death in Cambodia, Maguire, Peter. Facing Death in Cambodia, Colombia University Press, New York, 2005Colombia University Press, New York, 2005

Etcheson, Craig. After the Killing Fields, Etcheson, Craig. After the Killing Fields, Praeger Publishing, Westport CT, 2005Praeger Publishing, Westport CT, 2005

Documents

Cambodian Genocide The Khmer Rouge Regime. Map Of Cambodia