Khmer Rouge Essay

The origins of the Khmer Rouge can be traced to the founding of the Communist Party of Kampuchea. This movement was in response to the government of King Norodmon Sihanouk and his authoritarian government. Vietnam, China, Russia, and the United States all played rolls in the turmoil and chaos that engulfed the region, and also the creation of the instability that lead to the rise of one of the most destructive regimes in modern history. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia would see Communist influenced doctrine tip the already teetering economy and population into complete chaos. Millions would die from starvation, while many more would be executed for crimes against the government and espionage. The teaching of Communist China’s

This lead to Sihanouk aligning with the North Vietnamese communist and offered safe haven (from which to launch attacks from) to the North Vietnamese inside Cambodia’s border. In March 1969, in an effort to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines, President Nixon secretly ordered the US Air Force to conduct an extensive bombing campaign in eastern Cambodia. Later that year, in yet another public shift of loyalty, Sihanouk restored diplomatic relations with the United States. But by then his position inside Cambodia had become extremely precarious.” (Cambodia 1975-1979, n.d) These decisions and events would eventually lead to Sihanouk being overthrown in

Many were dumped in farmland graves that would become known as, “The Killing Fields”. Not content with purging spies domestically, they launched armed incursions into Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. In response, Thailand launched a full invasion of Cambodia involving tanks, and waves of infantry, “On January 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces entered a largely deserted Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge era was over. (Cambodia 1975-1979,