Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge
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Native name	របបខ្មែរក្រហម
Conventional long name	Democratic Kampuchea
Common name	Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge was a communist organization that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Ta Mok, and Ieng Sary. The regime was characterized by its radical Maoist and Marxist-Leninist ideology, which aimed to transform Cambodia into a self-sufficient agrarian society. The Khmer Rouge's rule was marked by extreme violence, forced labor, and the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people, out of a population of approximately 8 million, through executions, starvation, and disease. The regime's policies were influenced by the Chinese Communist Party and the Vietnamese Communist Party, and it received support from China and North Korea.

History

The Khmer Rouge was formed in the 1960s, emerging from the Indochinese Communist Party, which was founded by Ho Chi Minh. The organization gained strength during the Vietnam War, and in 1975, it seized power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, after a five-year civil war. The Khmer Rouge's victory was supported by the Pathet Lao in Laos and the North Vietnamese Army. The regime's early years were marked by the implementation of radical policies, including the forced relocation of people from urban areas to rural areas, the abolition of money, and the establishment of agricultural communes. The Khmer Rouge's rule was also characterized by its conflict with neighboring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, and its relations with other communist countries, such as China, North Korea, and the Soviet Union.

Ideology

The Khmer Rouge's ideology was rooted in Maoism and Marxist-Leninism, and it aimed to create a self-sufficient agrarian society in Cambodia. The regime's leaders, including Pol Pot and Ta Mok, were influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong, and they sought to apply these ideas to the Cambodian context. The Khmer Rouge's ideology was also characterized by its emphasis on nationalism and its opposition to foreign influence, particularly from the United States and Vietnam. The regime's policies were influenced by the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, and it received support from Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping in China.

Organization and Leadership

The Khmer Rouge was led by a small group of leaders, including Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Ieng Sary, and Son Sen. The organization was structured around the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, which was the highest decision-making body. The Khmer Rouge also had a network of cadres and officials who implemented its policies at the local level. The regime's leadership was marked by internal conflicts and power struggles, particularly between Pol Pot and Ta Mok, and it was also influenced by external factors, such as the Sino-Vietnamese War and the Sino-Soviet split. The Khmer Rouge's organization and leadership were also influenced by the Vietnamese Communist Party and the Laotian Communist Party.

Atrocities and Repression

The Khmer Rouge's rule was marked by extreme violence and repression, including the use of forced labor, executions, and torture. The regime's policies led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people, out of a population of approximately 8 million, through executions, starvation, and disease. The Khmer Rouge's atrocities were committed at sites such as S-21, a prison and torture center in Phnom Penh, and the Killing Fields, a series of execution sites outside the capital. The regime's repression was also directed against specific groups, including the Cham Muslims, the Vietnamese minority, and the Chinese Cambodians. The Khmer Rouge's atrocities were influenced by the Red Guards in China and the Tukulor Empire in West Africa.

Fall of the Khmer Rouge

The Khmer Rouge's rule ended in 1979, when Vietnam invaded Cambodia and ousted the regime from power. The Vietnamese established a new government in Phnom Penh, led by Heng Samrin and Hun Sen, and the Khmer Rouge was forced to retreat to the countryside. The Khmer Rouge continued to wage a guerrilla war against the Vietnamese and the new Cambodian government, but it was eventually weakened by internal conflicts and external pressure. The Khmer Rouge's fall was also influenced by the Sino-Vietnamese War and the Cold War, and it received support from the United States, China, and Thailand.

Trials and Legacy

In the 2000s, the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia established the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia to try senior Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The trials began in 2007 and continued until 2020, with Kaing Guek Eav, Ieng Thirith, and Ieng Sary being among those tried. The Khmer Rouge's legacy continues to be felt in Cambodia, with many survivors still seeking justice and compensation for their suffering. The Khmer Rouge's rule has also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including The Killing Fields, a film directed by Roland Joffé and starring Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor. The Khmer Rouge's legacy is also remembered at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Phnom Penh. Category:Communist parties