Nuon Chea

• known as brother number two or Pol Pot's shadow
• In some people's views, he is the Cambodian that has the most responsiblity in the mass killings and tortures
• He was the one that got briefing papers for every person that went to Tuol Sleng (he decided when it was appropriate for people to be killed)
• He will not admit to the horrors of the Cambodian Genocide and his participation in it

Aftermath of Cambodian Genocide

- January 7th, 1979: Khmer Rouge was overthrown by the Vietnamese

• The video we will show will also help explain the current situation in Cambodia.  (http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/11/flwrc62.html?&c=2wm)

What happened during the genocide?

• Starvation, disease, exhaustion, deaths
• Many were forced to work in the country side (The Killing Fields)
• Muslims and Christians murdered
• People of any ethnicity other than Khmer were looked down upon or killed
• Tuol Sleng (S-21): Interrogation, torture, murder
• Was modelled after Communism in China (Mao)

What was the goal of the genocide?

What was the Goal?

• To get rid of old Cambodian society and reconstruct Cambodia to be like Mao’s China.  All people who opposed were eliminated (all intellectuals were assumed to be of the opposition).
• Return to year zero
• Return to when land was cultivated by peasants

What led to the genocide?

In this post, we will provide information on the events that led to the Cambodian genocide.

What initiated/led to the genocide?

• 1953- Cambodia's independence from French's rule after nearly 100 years

• 1960s-Population of over 7 million people and ruled by a monarch, Prince Sihanouk

Prince Sihanouk

• 1970- Sihanouk desposed in a coup
• The prime minister, general Lon Nol, assumed power and implemented Khmer Replublic,sending its army to fight the North Vietnamese in Cambodia.

• Sihanouk then formed a guerilla movement with the khmer rouge.
• Army lost due to the North Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge
• 17 April 1975-Khmer Rouge forces entered the capital city, Phnom Penh and defeated the ruling Lon Nol Army.

How was Cambodia like before the genocide?

How was Cambodia like before the genocide?

• Less violent
• Less killings, not a lot of wars
• More peaceful
• Sufficient food
• Technology like watches are allowed.
• Intellectuals (ie Doctors, teachers, scientists) were admired

Ethnic Groups( in order of importance)

1) Chinese

2) Vietnamese Minority

3) Cham-Malay group. Known in Cambodia as Khmer Islam or Western Cham, the Cham-Malay group also maintained a high degree of ethnic homogeneity and was discriminated against under the regime of Democratic Kampuchea.

Language- Khmer language

Official Religion- Buddhism

Main people involved in the Cambodian genocide

In this post, we will provide information on the main people involved in the Cambodian genocide.

Pol Pot

- The leader of Khmer Rouge
- Leader of Cambodia from 1976-1979
- Given name: Saloth Sar
- Execution of all intellectuals
- Books, artifacts, Cambodian history-destroyed (sort of like the Cultural Revolution in China)
- Cambodia=Kampuchea
- Concentration Camps-reeducation or death
Fled to jungle during Vietnemese invasion

Lon Nol

- Government that Loung's father worked under

- Took over Prince Norodom
- Fled to Hawaii, 1975 

Khmer Rouge and their soldiers

- Cruel

- Showed no tolerance

- Tortured and interrogated the people
- Even killed children with no hesitation
- Made children kill their own parents

Victims-The people who suffered the most

• Intellectuals and people who were exposed or ‘corrupted’ by their city lives
• Discrimination among people who did not look like Khmer (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai..etc)
• You could even be executed if you wore glasses or knew a foreign language!

The Vietnamese (Youns)

• January 7th, 1979: Vietnamese seized Phnom Penh
• Overthrew the Democratic Kampuchea and ended the rule of the Khmer Rouge
• Liberated the people

About Us

We are a group of TAS students hoping to raise awareness about the cambodian genocide.