Initial Impact
What was the date that Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge?
17 April 1975
What was the Khmer Rouge's economic plan called and how much was the rice harvest to be increased?
Four Year Plan. The country would produce three tons of rice per hectare (double the pre-DK yield)
What date is 'Liberation Day' and what happened that day?
January 7th 1979. Vietnamese forces occupied Phnom Penh.
Who said the Khmer Rouge were 'naughty dogs' and needed to be caressed?
Sihanouk, after the Paris Peace Agreement that set up UNTAC
Many people were accused by the Khmer Rouge of serving the ideologies of 4 particular countries – ‘hidden enemies burrowing from within’. What were they?
USA, Soviet Union, Vietnam, Thailand
Approximately how many people were evacuated from Phnom Penh and other cities and moved into the countryside, and what reason were they given?
Two million. USA was about to bomb the cities so they had to leave for their safety.
Give two reasons why rice production fell over the time the Khmer Rouge were in power
Workers got progressively weak, as they starved, and couldn't grow as much rice. (Also, when the rice production was low, records were falsified & as much rice as possible was sent to the party centre, creating more starvation.) Plus the amount of available workers steadily declined as many were sent to the ‘killing fields’.
Why was little or no relief sent to Cambodia in 1979?
Vietnamese rule of Cambodia is not recognised, therefore there is no aid sent to Vietnamese ruled Cambodia. The United Nations still recognise the Khmer Rouge as the legitimate government of Democratic Kampuchea
What does UNTAC stand for and in what two years did it operate?
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, 1992 and 1993
Who was in charge of the S21 (Tuol Sleng) Prison and what happened to him?
Comrade Duch (Kang Kek Iew/ Kaing Kek Iev/ Kaing Guek Eav) He was tried at the ECCC and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Give three reasons that the 'New People' were treated so harshly by the Khmer Rouge.
It was thought that they were: supporters Lon Nol (the enemy), they were capitalists (enemies of communism), they were parasites and incapable of hard work (useless in the work of the revolution), they were educated (therefore posed a threat), they were politically opposed to the Khmer Rouge.
Describe the conditions in the labour camps (agricultural rice growing collectives).
Long hours of hard physical labour for more than 12 hours per day, 7 days a week. Everyone over 14 was considered an adult worker. Little food and no medical attention. Lived in ‘cooperatives’ of about 1,000 families and lived, worked and ate together, rather than in family groups. People died of starvation or were killed for foraging for food.
Why is there such opposition to the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia?
USA oppose them because of defeat in Vietnam war and because they are closely allied to the USSR. China is Khmer Rouge's big supporter - foreign countries (especially USA) want to keep on China's good side for trade purposes. Vietnam occupied Cambodia by force and never left.
In what ways did the Khmer Rouge defy the agreements made in the Paris Agreement (which set up UNTAC)?
They didn't demobilise, they didn't stick to a ceasefire, they interfered in the free and fair elections by trying to intimidate people to disrupt them and they refused to register for them.
Name Brothers Number One, Two and Three - in order.
Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary
Name three institutions that were closed and give a reason why this was done.
Schools, universities, hospitals, banks. Schools were seen as worthless. Learning was all about learning to labour physically on the farms or land and being productive. They don’t want or need professions (such as doctors, engineers) as they are tainted by capitalism and western values. Money was abolished - as it was capitalist.
How did the Khmer Rouge break traditional family bonds in the agricultural collectives and why did they do this?
Mass weddings of up to 100 couples, partners were chosen by Angkar, forced marriages. Husbands and wives lived separately in their work groups, saw each other once a week. Children separated from their families .ALL loyalty must be for Angkar Padevat - no other loyalties or bonds allowed. The purpose of marriage was to produce children who would work for the revolution
How did the continuing military presence of the Khmer Rouge during the years of Vietnamese rule negatively impact on Cambodians?
Attacks on Vietnamese troops meant less money and time for rebuilding the country. It also meant that Cambodians are conscripted to fight them. Conflict creates more refugees and more casualties. Cambodia is swamped in landmines.
Who got the greatest percentage of votes in the 1993 election? Why and how did they share power?
FUNCINPEC (45%) – led by Prince Sihanouk’s son, Prince Ranariddh. They didn't have a majority, Hun Sen claimed election fraud and threatened war if he didn't share power, so they had to form a coalition with Hun Sen's party. They had two co-Prime Ministers - Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen
In what ways were children's rights denied in Democratic Kampuchea?
Received basic reading and writing instruction but most schooling was devoted to political indoctrination (absolute devotion to Angkar, even to the extent of spying on their parents or killing them). Separated from their families and put to work. Physical abuse. Deprived of food if didn’t work hard enough. Recruited as child soldiers
Finish the quote and say how this was done in Cambodia. "To dig up the grass, one has to ..."
"To dig up the grass, one has to remove even the roots". To remake society, everything had to be destroyed, right down to the foundations of society e.g. families, schools, religion. It also means getting rid of ALL possible opponents of the regime.
Why did the Khmer Rouge want to grow so much rice? Relate this to the broader Khmer Rouge aims for Cambodia.
Focus on rice was part of the agricultural focus - the peasant was the supreme and ideal worker and cities were seen to be tainted by capitalism and western values. Also, rice production was intended to make Cambodia self-sufficient so there would not be any 'outside' influence from other countries. Everyone is equal on the rice field - classless society.
When do the Vietnamese leave Cambodia, why, who do they leave in charge, and who opposes his rule?
1989. Their primary supporter and trade partner the USSR has collapsed and they can no longer afford to maintain their troops in Cambodia. Hun Sen. The other three Cambodian factions oppose his rule: Khmer Rouge, Son Sann (Khmer People’s National Liberation Front) and Sihanouk (FUNCINPEC)
When and why did foreign powers stop supporting the legitimacy of Khmer Rouge leadership of Cambodia and what important impact did this have?
1993, after the free and fair elections established an elected leadership in Cambodia (which didn't include the Khmer Rouge). Foreign countries (particularly USA) and the United Nations started to help the investigation into the Cambodian Genocide and helped set up the ECCC to try Khmer Rouge leaders.
Who are the 'Hanoi Khmer'? What happened to them and when?
Cambodian communists (Khmer Rouge) who were suspected of being too influenced by North North Vietnam (particularly those in the East Zone) - and therefore posed a threat. They were purged (killed) or they fled. Mainly occurred from mid 1976 to the end of 1977.