Vietnam War in CambodiaVietnam War in Cambodia

Cambodia: a neutral state in the warCambodia: a neutral state in the war 30,000 poorly equipped Cambodian 30,000 poorly equipped Cambodian

soldiers vs. 180,000 Vietnamese Armysoldiers vs. 180,000 Vietnamese Army

1973 Peace Agreement1973 Peace Agreement

U.S. to leave Vietnam and in return U.S. to leave Vietnam and in return Vietnam would leave CambodiaVietnam would leave Cambodia

Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge vowed to continue their vowed to continue their conflict within Cambodia (Communist)conflict within Cambodia (Communist)

BackgroundBackground

Ho Chi Ming trail causes the North Ho Chi Ming trail causes the North Vietnamese to set up some basesVietnamese to set up some bases inside inside of Cambodia during the Vietnam war.of Cambodia during the Vietnam war.

1970-1973 U.S. helping out Cambodia in 1970-1973 U.S. helping out Cambodia in keeping the North Vietnamese out of the keeping the North Vietnamese out of the country country

Khmer Rouge makes their way into the Khmer Rouge makes their way into the capital city on New Years day January capital city on New Years day January 1975. 1975.

April 17, 1975 - Cambodia falls to April 17, 1975 - Cambodia falls to communism.communism.

The killing fields takes place for 3-5 The killing fields takes place for 3-5 years killing 2.5-3 million out of the years killing 2.5-3 million out of the total 8 million people.total 8 million people.

Pol Pot and the Pol Pot and the Cambodian Killing Cambodian Killing

FieldsFields1975-19791975-1979 Pol Pot formed a Pol Pot formed a

Communist peasant Communist peasant farming societyfarming society. .

Residents of towns and cities were forced to evacuate

Those who refused to leave and those who did not leave fast enough were killed

Children were taken from their parents and put into separate forced labor camps

Factories, schools, universities, and hospitals were shut down

All people in professional fields were killed along with their extended families

Religion was banned Music and Radios were banned

Present-Day Cambodia

• One of the poorest countries in the world– Average Cambodian earns

$280/year– 81% Cambodians live

below poverty line

–

Landmines in Cambodia • 10 million: A landmine for every

Cambodian

• The costs of laying mine = $3 US per mine,

• The costs of removal one = $1000 US