Resistance & Aid.
Since Cambodia was going through a civil war when the Khmer Rouge came together, so there was not much resistance from the beat up republican government. When the Khmer Rouge came into Phnom Penh they evacuated everyone form the city in fear that the USA was going to drop a bomb. Anyone that refused to do what the officers said, were shot dead. Khmer Rouge eventually made its way to all the other cities in Cambodia, forcing people out of their homes and sending them to camps (Rennie). The Khmer Rouge closed off Cambodia from the outside world; no one knew what they were doing, and they didn't know what anyone else was doing.
People eventually found out little details of what was going on when refugees reached the Thai border and were interviewed. In the United States, officials thought the statements about the genocide coming from Southeast Asia where exaggerated and lies. With the US holding a defeat of Vietnam under their belt, they really didn't want to get involved with this region again. Little efforts were made from the US and any other countries throughout the time of the genocide. Once the Khmer Rouge was overthrown, international attention, news, and media was brought on Cambodia and the actions of Pol Pot (Museum). They were pushed back into the forests by US Marine helicopters that had surrounded Phnom Penh. The Soviet Union and its allies provided some assistance, but that gravy train eventually ended when the collapse of the USSR came to be. Vietnam also helped out the Cambodian government get back to normal after the Khmer Rouge was mostly done with (Rennie).
The United Nations also tried to play a part when it came to aiding Cambodia during this devastating time. When the Khmer Rouge was pushed out of Phnom Penh, the Cambodian government requested help form the UN. They wanted help prosecuting the former leaders for all the crimes they had committed in the past couple years. So the UN came up with a proposal and the Cambodian government shot it down because they court system they came up with wasn't what they wanted and refused to have any Western influence on these types of things. They eventually came to an agreement on June 6, 2003 and the court systems have been working on convicting these leaders ever since (Krkljes). In 2006, the United Nation and the Cambodian government came together to make the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) which is responsible for helping with the convictions of three Khmer Rouge leaders so far (Museum).
Last but not least, the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 played a major part in getting Cambodia back on it's feet again. After is was signed, the Khmer Rouge was still controlling parts of the country and some fighting was still going on. The agreement was solely for laying out a process for ending the conflict and for helping build a democratic Cambodia. The United Nations stated in the country until 1993 and their mission was to "foster an environment in which respect for human rights shall be ensured" so that the past would not repeat itself. The UN focused on four areas while they were helping out: support for prison reform; the protection of fundamental freedoms and development of civil society; the protection of land and housing rights; and support for legal and judicial reform (Nations). Since then, Cambodia is still making little strides to become more developed like their neighboring countries.
People eventually found out little details of what was going on when refugees reached the Thai border and were interviewed. In the United States, officials thought the statements about the genocide coming from Southeast Asia where exaggerated and lies. With the US holding a defeat of Vietnam under their belt, they really didn't want to get involved with this region again. Little efforts were made from the US and any other countries throughout the time of the genocide. Once the Khmer Rouge was overthrown, international attention, news, and media was brought on Cambodia and the actions of Pol Pot (Museum). They were pushed back into the forests by US Marine helicopters that had surrounded Phnom Penh. The Soviet Union and its allies provided some assistance, but that gravy train eventually ended when the collapse of the USSR came to be. Vietnam also helped out the Cambodian government get back to normal after the Khmer Rouge was mostly done with (Rennie).
The United Nations also tried to play a part when it came to aiding Cambodia during this devastating time. When the Khmer Rouge was pushed out of Phnom Penh, the Cambodian government requested help form the UN. They wanted help prosecuting the former leaders for all the crimes they had committed in the past couple years. So the UN came up with a proposal and the Cambodian government shot it down because they court system they came up with wasn't what they wanted and refused to have any Western influence on these types of things. They eventually came to an agreement on June 6, 2003 and the court systems have been working on convicting these leaders ever since (Krkljes). In 2006, the United Nation and the Cambodian government came together to make the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) which is responsible for helping with the convictions of three Khmer Rouge leaders so far (Museum).
Last but not least, the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 played a major part in getting Cambodia back on it's feet again. After is was signed, the Khmer Rouge was still controlling parts of the country and some fighting was still going on. The agreement was solely for laying out a process for ending the conflict and for helping build a democratic Cambodia. The United Nations stated in the country until 1993 and their mission was to "foster an environment in which respect for human rights shall be ensured" so that the past would not repeat itself. The UN focused on four areas while they were helping out: support for prison reform; the protection of fundamental freedoms and development of civil society; the protection of land and housing rights; and support for legal and judicial reform (Nations). Since then, Cambodia is still making little strides to become more developed like their neighboring countries.
Convicted.
Saloth Sar (Pol Pot)
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Pol Pot died in 1998 before he was brought to trial and convicted of any crimes. He died in his sleep because of heart failure at the age of 73 in his home in the jungle. His home was also the place of his cremation and is going to be turned into a tourist destination. Pot was blamed for the genocide by those who have spoken publicly, and they claim to know nothing of the killings (Melicharova). He moved back to Thailand with Khmer Rouge and used some guerrilla tactics against the Vietnam funded Cambodian government. After 17 years of disagreement and power struggles, he finally lost control in 1990. (Place)
Kang Khek Lew, or Dush the director of Tuol Sleng (S-21), surrendered to the authorities of Phnom Penh after being tracked down by journalist Nic Dunlop in 1999. Lew was in custody for 11 years before they put him on trial. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. After the genocide he left Cambodia and made his way to Thailand where he taught himself Thai, English and some mathematics. Lew then changed his name to Hang Pin, taught a school in a small town, and became a faithful Christian just before he was discovered (Rennie). |
Kang Khek Lew
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The first stage of the trial was for three leaders that were apart of the Khmer Rouge. Nuon Chea was believed to have been head of Security Committee and chief ideologist of the Khmer Rouge and a former communist politician (Pailin). Khieu Samphan was also a former communist politician and member of the Khmer Rouge. In 1973 be became the commander-in-chief of the Khmer Rouge, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense until 1975, when he became President (Romande). In August 2014 both Chea and Samphan were found guilty of crimes against humanity and sent to prison for life; the second part of this trial is still going on (Rennie). Ieng Sary, the brother-in-law of Pol Pot, was also one of the activists of the Khmer Rouge and was actually the co-founder and senior member. Sary sees himself as a gentle person who believed in good deeds and ideas. He points all fingers at Nuon Chea saying he was about torture and execution. Ieng Sary died March 14, 2013 of gastrointestinal problems before he could be convicted of any genocide related crimes (Mydans).
Cambodia Today.
Three decades after the war, the Khmer Rouge was not a threat anymore, major leaders are on trial or dead, and other remaining member of the Khmer Rouge are connected with the government. Violent crimes, robbing and kidnapping are a major problem today in Cambodia's society. The landmines provide many jobs, but are extremely dangerous causing hundreds or deaths each year. The prime minister is currently Hun Sen who is taking a lot of criticism over the may law suits he is bring on, but is fighting for Cambodian's to get paid higher wages (Rennie).
One of the major repercussions the genocide had on Cambodia was delaying its development causing it to be one of the poorest countries in Asia. It is a part of the Association of South East Asian Nations but Cambodia is trailing behind most of it more successful neighboring countries. The garment, or textile, industry is Cambodia's biggest money maker, but is struggling with coming to an agreement with working conditions and wages. Cambodia's industries need to be able to compete with other Asian industries in or for them to stay economically afloat. Tourism is becoming more popular in the bigger cities, but tourists come to see the Angkor temples without exploring the rest of the country. This doesn't bring much money into the economy because they are staying for a couple days and only contributing money to Cambodia's cities. Poverty is also a reoccurring problem for many Cambodians who are getting kicked off their land to be developed. Most of them have been relocated to places without sewage and electricity (Rennie). Poverty is a problem because the population is rapidly growing and the lack of education and skills so they cannot fend for themselves and are stuck at the bottom of society (IFDA). Cambodia has the potential to succeeded in the future; maybe if they get aid or help from neighboring countries developing could happen sooner than later.
One of the major repercussions the genocide had on Cambodia was delaying its development causing it to be one of the poorest countries in Asia. It is a part of the Association of South East Asian Nations but Cambodia is trailing behind most of it more successful neighboring countries. The garment, or textile, industry is Cambodia's biggest money maker, but is struggling with coming to an agreement with working conditions and wages. Cambodia's industries need to be able to compete with other Asian industries in or for them to stay economically afloat. Tourism is becoming more popular in the bigger cities, but tourists come to see the Angkor temples without exploring the rest of the country. This doesn't bring much money into the economy because they are staying for a couple days and only contributing money to Cambodia's cities. Poverty is also a reoccurring problem for many Cambodians who are getting kicked off their land to be developed. Most of them have been relocated to places without sewage and electricity (Rennie). Poverty is a problem because the population is rapidly growing and the lack of education and skills so they cannot fend for themselves and are stuck at the bottom of society (IFDA). Cambodia has the potential to succeeded in the future; maybe if they get aid or help from neighboring countries developing could happen sooner than later.
l 80.5% of Cambodians live in rural areas
l 22.8% live on less that $1.25 per day
l 26.4% of household have electricity
l 42% of the population has no access to safe water
l 85.1% Male 70.9% Female literacy rate
l 31.1% of children are engaged in hazardous labor
l 55% of child laborers have dropped out of school or have never attended
l Average life expectancy for a Cambodian is 63.1 years
(Rennie) http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.php
l 22.8% live on less that $1.25 per day
l 26.4% of household have electricity
l 42% of the population has no access to safe water
l 85.1% Male 70.9% Female literacy rate
l 31.1% of children are engaged in hazardous labor
l 55% of child laborers have dropped out of school or have never attended
l Average life expectancy for a Cambodian is 63.1 years
(Rennie) http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.php
Sources:
- IFDA. (2005). Rural Poverty Portal. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/cambodia
- Krkljes, S., & Mitchell, W. (2014). Cambodian Genocide « World Without Genocide - Working to create a World Without Genocide. Retrieved May 11, 2015, from http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/cambodian-genocide
- Melicharova, M. (2002). GENOCIDE - CAMBODIA. Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide/g_cambodia2.html
- Museum. (2005). Cambodia. Retrieved May 10, 2015, from http://www.ushmm.org/confront-genocide/cases/cambodia/aftermath/renewed-war
- Mydans, S. (2013, March 14). Ieng Sary, Former Official of Khmer Rouge, Dies at 87. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/15/world/asia/ieng-sary-khmer-rouge-leader-tied-to-genocide-dies-at-87.html?_r=0
- Nations, U. (2011, October 21). Cambodia - 20 years on from the Paris Peace Agreements. Retrieved May 11, 2015, from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Cambodia-20yearsonfromtheParisPeace.aspx
- Pailin. (2002, October 1). Cambodia - Pol Pot's Shadow. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia/diary10.html
- Place, T. (1999). The History Place - Genocide in the 20th Century: Pol Pot in Cambodia 1975-1979. Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/pol-pot.htm
- Rennie, D. (1994). Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/holocaust.php
- Romande, L. (2007). Khieu Samphan. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://www.trial-ch.org/en/resources/trial-watch/trial-watch/profiles/profile/655/action/show/controller/Profile.html