Cambodia

Tyler Bronsink

5-28-13

1^st hour

The Cambodia Genocides

On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge (which at the time was a secret movement) overtook the country of Cambodia. While in power, they would set limits on the Cambodian's life, jeopardizing their human rights. The Khmer Rouge would put the Cambodians into forced labor camps in harsh conditions. Unfortunately, the Khmer Rouge would also commit unforgivable genocides (acts of killing certain ethnic or religious groups of people to get rid of them) during its rule. These acts would eventually lead to the deaths of approximately two million people and almost destroyed Cambodia.

 The Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot, overtook Cambodia in the 1970's. During the early 1970’s, the Vietnam War (North Vietnam vs. South Vietnam (with support from U.S)) was fought in Vietnam. To the left of Vietnam is Cambodia, which at the time was neutral to the war. However, when Lol Nol of the Khmer Republic came to power, he allow the U.S to harbored U.S. troops, airbases, barracks, and weapons caches. The U.S could move freely throughout the land and could use American B-52 bombers, dart cluster-bombs, and napalm to destroy suspected Viet Cong targets in Cambodia. Because of this, Cambodia became a battlefield.  Between 1970 and 1974, about 750,000 Cambodians were killed by the war. Due to these events, many Cambodians were driven to Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge guerilla movement. Many Cambodians saw it as an image of hope and freedom for Cambodia. By 1975, 700,000 men had joined the movement. On April 17, the movement took Phnom Penh, a major city in Cambodia.  Cambodia officially fell into Pol Pot's hands, thus began his plan. Pol Pot’s idea was to create a utopia where everyone was equal and would rely on their own strength. Some of Pol Pot’s beliefs included dogmatism (believing the

truth without any evidence), narrow-mindedness, infallibility of the party line/leader, and contempt for democracy. Some others, the idea of self-reliance from Maoist elements, which

stated that they should avoid western technology, were added later. After the takeover of Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge send Cambodians from their city homes into the countryside to

start working on agricultural work (labor camps). Those who refused to leave were killed. Those with disabilities were killed. Those who were old or young were also killed. What the Khmer

Rouge wanted was an equal society with no rich or poor. In order to accomplish this, they banned money, free markets, normal schooling, private property, foreign clothing styles, religious practices, medical help and traditional Khmer culture. They also closed down schools and churches. There was to be no public transportation or private property. The Cambodians were force to wear black clothing. Relationships with family members or others were often not tolerated. To show any emotions was like asking for the death penalty.  The Khmer Rouge decided that only pure people were allowed in charge of the movement. They would kill any one tied to the Khmer Republic. They would kill or send anyone affiliated to religion or foreign countries to work camps. They would also kill anyone who wore glasses because that was a sign of intelligence. When the workers were no longer fit for duty, they were to be killed. Those who were fit worked for 12 hours straight without water or food. Astonishing, a prison, known as S – 21, had about 14,000 people. Only twelve survived. It was often that people were killed for no particular reason. In fact, one of the Khmer Rouge's slogans stated "To spare you is no profit; to destroy you is no loss.” These acts of killing innocent lives would go on for about 4 years.

Around the end of 1977, fights began to break out between Cambodia and Vietnam over territory. Pol Pot claimed that his army was more superior then the Vietnamese. In fact, he

stated that one of his men could kill 30 soldiers from the Vietnam’s army. Because of this, he refused an offer to let the United Nations decide territory lands. On Christmas day, 1978, the reign of Pol Pot came to an end when a Vietnam invasion force over threw the Khmer Rouge. The leaders, including Pol Pot, escaped but were eventually arrested or die. Unfortunately, these genocides would often be considered one of the worse human tragedies. About two millions Cambodians died from lack of medicine. Thousands were made into widows, widowers, and orphans and many now have disabilities due to forced work and lack of medical attention. In fact, many Cambodians (hundreds of thousands) have left Cambodia. Those who stayed there have mental problems and their spirits are now broken. All Pol Pot wanted to do was to make his country an equal society. In the end, however, his dream almost destroyed the country he loved.