Cambodian Genocide
The history of Cambodia is something quite remarkable. This country has somehow seemed to prevail through their most difficult time ever, the Cambodian Genocide. Before the Genocide actually happened, Cambodia was in another country's war. Cambodia is settled right next to Vietnam, which had also fought against the French to gain independence.
Prince Sihanouk helped to keep Cambodia at a neutral state during the Vietnamese Civil war by allowing both sides to keep doing things; Vietnamese communists were able to use a Cambodian port to ship in necessities, the USA was allowed to bomb Viet Cong hideouts in Cambodia. When the US decided to move back, Lon Nol took control. US troops then made the decision to
The Cambodian Genocide was the result of imperialism, ethnic supremacy, ultra-nationalism, anti-colonialism, a power grab, and religion. It began with the Cambodian people struggling against French colonization and grew in inspiration from Vietnam (end genocide). The French believed that Cambodia was a gateway into China to expand their trade with Southeast Asia. The French occupied southern Vietnam and wanted to expand their territory. There were many civil wars and invasions in Cambodia fought between the Vietnamese and Thai, and it greatly affected Cambodia. While the French did help Cambodia become independent and grew their infrastructure, while exploiting Cambodian labor, they failed to educate Cambodian people and establish a solid and effective judiciary system (Cambodia tribunal). Thus began their feelings of anti-colonialism. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. used Cambodia as a base to regroup, but also bombed the country to kill suspected Viet Cong targets. This began their feelings of imperialism and ultra-nationalism. The Khmer Rouge began feeling great animosity towards the West for their influenced corruption to Cambodian land and its people. Between January and August of 1973, 300,000 Cambodians were killed by American bombers that had joined forces with Lon Nol, head of the Khmer Republic.
The Cambodian genocide occurred in the late twentieth century in Cambodia; the Holocaust took place in the beginning of the twentieth century in Germany and Eastern Europe. In the Cambodian Genocide and the Holocaust, individuals experienced a lack of allies because people were more concerned about self-preservation than they were about the other party. Bystanders, such as the United States and characters in Night, did not help because they valued their own safety over the safety of others. Allies were only motivated to help if they were sure it would disadvantage them.
The Cambodian Genocide has the historical context of the Vietnam War and the country’s own civil war. During the Vietnam War, leading up to the conflicts that would contribute to the genocide, Cambodia was used as a U.S. battleground for the Vietnam War. Cambodia would become a battle ground for American troops fighting in Vietnam for four years; the war would kill up
It’s hard to imagine that people would support and act upon plans to kill millions of innocent human beings. The Holocaust and Cambodian genocide were two of the most horrific genocides in the history of civilization. The Holocaust and Cambodian genocide has not only similarities but also differences. How they treated their victims, USA involvement, and that they both killed millions of people are some things they share. Differences they include are the people they targeted, how the two leaders took office and lastly where these to genocides took place.
In the late 70’s, nearly 2 million Cambodians died of overwork, starvation, torture, and execution in what became known as the Cambodian genocide. A group known as the Khmer Rouge took control of the country in April 1975. Over the course of
The Cambodian Genocide happened between 1975 and 1979 in Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge, a guerrilla group, over threw the government and started a regime to bring Cambodia back to year zero . The Khmer Rouge called this the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea . Their aim was to purify society from the influence of the west, and to create a communist country . The Khmer Rouge started this by destroying what was left of the old society and executing the wealthy, educated and military people. They banned all outside languages and religion. An estimated figure of 1.7 million Cambodians where killed during this period by the Khmer Rouge .
m. When the Americans started bombing in Cambodia, it pushed people to join a rebel group called the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge forces took over Cambodia, and evacuated the nation's cities. They emptied schools, hospitals, factories and abolished all forms of money and wages. Religion, popular culture, and all forms of self expression were forbidden. They were forced into the countryside to do forced labor, and got less than 90 grams of rice a day. Where most people died from fatigue, disease, execution, and starvation. Now people of Cambodia are exchanging this terrible genocide for healing. Trying to find peace and a resolution for all those who have lost loved ones, or encountered this terrible genocide
In the 1950s Cambodia gained its independence from France and became peacefully ruled by Prince Sihanouk. In the 1960s, Cambodia was dragged into the Vietnam War and in 1970, the prime minister General Lon Nol assumed power and announced the implementation of the Khmer Republic and sent the Khmer Republic’s army to fight the North Vietnamese in Cambodia (Smith-Hefner 264). Prince Sihanouk formed a communist guerrilla
Most people have heard of the holocaust, but the Cambodian genocide seems to be forgotten by a lot of people. Cambodia is a small country half the size of California, located in Asia. Its border countries are Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos(). Cambodia is a small country where a large tragedy happened.
The genocide of Cambodia started on the year of 1975 and ended on 1979. This is considered the Khmer Pogue period, where Pol Pot , Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen, Khieu Samphan and the Khmer Rouge Communist party took over
So he retaliated by joining Pol Pot. The U.S. invaded Cambodia that same year to rid the North Vietnamese from their border encampments. Instead they just drove the North Vietnamese deeper into Cambodia where they became allies with the Khmer Rouge. The U.S. from 1969 until 1973, continuously bombed North Vietnamese sanctuaries in Cambodia. They killed up to 150,000 Cambodian peasants.
The Cambodian Genocide of 1975 was a horrific event that will never be forgotten or forgiven in the Cambodia society. However, this event could have been prevented, had less killings, and the victims still can receive justice. After analyzing articles covering this topic, we can see the 8 stages of genocide, how other countries contributed, and the process of the current conviction of former Khmer Rouge members. This genocide showed many signs in the Eight Stages of Genocide including, organization, polarization, preparation, extermination, and denial.
Ever since the actions in Cambodia occurred, it has been debated whether it was an actual genocide. The general definition of genocide is the purposeful and methodical execution of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia demonstrated that a government can be guilty of genocide against its own nation. The radical communist party led by Pol Pot took over Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. After 1979, the Khmer Rouge left a traumatized Cambodian culture that continues to undergo the repercussions of the genocide. People over the age of forty in Cambodia have stories to tell of fear, cruelty, hunger and the loss of family members. However, the Cambodian government is not making an effort to recognize the negative occurrences that have posed itself in the history of their culture.
Sadly, they only received a chance at justice almost 10 years after their country was tortured. People throughout the country and the world have varying views on how these trials affected them either positively or neutrally and that it wasn’t enough. People felt as if the trials were a step in the right direction, but not the finish line. Others were happy that the trials occured and felt as if it was what they needed to find peace in knowing the men who tried to ruin their lives, were now sitting it jail the rest of their lives. Looking from an outside perspective, the world around the little country of Cambodia stepped in to help find peace. Instead they caused conflict over whether it was the right action to be taken and whether it positively affected and helped the country. Today in Cambodia, people are still suffering and struggling to be able to live normal lives. People lost all family members and friends and now have to start all over. Youk Chhang writes about his country and their efforts to unite and heal as one. “The job of the whole nation is to pick up all the little pieces to put back together," said Chhang. Cambodians, can "be proud of the genocide that we have lived through." "I'm proud to tell you that I have survived genocide and can tell you the story. I am no longer a victim," (Youk Chhang: Picking up the Pieces in Cambodia). In his interview with stanford, he talks about spreading the