Cambodia Pol Pot

On January 10, 1979, the Vietnamese installed Heng Samrin as head of state in the new People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). The Vietnamese Army continued its pursuit of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge forces. At least 600,000 Cambodians displaced during the Pol Pot era and the Vietnamese invasion began streaming to the Thai border in search of refuge. ...

Throughout the 1960s, domestic politics polarized. Opposition grew within the middle class and among leftists, including Paris-educated leaders such as Son Sen, Ieng Sary, and Saloth Sar (later known as Pol Pot), who led an insurgency under the clandestine Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK). ... [Read More]

USIS -- Issues of Democracy, May 1996 -- Malamud onCambodia

Before war criminals can be brought to account, evidence mustbe gathered and made available to the public and to legalexperts. In this article, USIA staff writer Paul Malamud writesabout Yale University's Cambodian Genocide Program, which isusing modern communications and computer technology to bring tolight the crimes of the Pol Pot regime of the 1970s. ...

Asked why it is worth the attempt to expose the crimes of Pol Potand his followers at this date, Kiernan said: "Apart from thedesire of the Cambodian people for justice, I think there is aninternational interest, a long-term interest of the rest of theworld, in having these crimes accounted for; a signal sent toanyone considering doing something similar that they will bebrought to account too." ... [Read More]

Background Notes: Cambodia

Country Background Notes, 1990-93Background Notes, 1990Background Notes: CambodiaPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Dec 15, 199012/15/90Category: Country DataRegion: Southeast AsiaCountry: CambodiaSubject: Cultural Exchange, Resource Management, Military Affairs, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics, Regional/Civil Unrest[TEXT]Official Name: CambodiaPROFILEGeographyArea: 181,040 sq. km. (69,900 sq. mi.); about the size of Missouri.Cities: Capital-Phnom Penh (pop. 4 ... [Read More]

Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific

U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Cambodia, January 1996Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsPrepared and released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam Affairs January 1996Official Name: Kingdom of CambodiaPROFILEGeographyArea: 181,040 sq. km. (69,900 sq. mi.); about the size of Missouri.Cities: Capital-Phnom Penh (pop. between 1 million and 1.2 million). Other cities-Battambang, Siem Reap, Kompong Cham, Kompong Speu, Kompong Thom.Terrain: Central plain drained by the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Heavy forests away from the rivers and the lake, mountains in the southwest (Cardamom Mountains) and north (Dangrek Mountains) along the border with Thailand.Climate: Tropical monsoon with rainy season June-Oct. and dry season Nov.-May.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective: Cambodian(s), Khmer.Population (1995): 10.56 million.Avg. annual growth rate: 4.1%. Births--44 births/ ... [Read More]

USIS - Issues of Democracy (Spanish), May 1996 --Cambodia

Los nuevos gobernantes comenzaron a exterminar grandes cantidadesde civiles camboyanos en un intento grotesco de crear unasociedad ideológicamente "perfecta". Personas de todas lasedades y de todos los grupos étnicos fueron torturadas yasesinadas. Para 1979, cuando finalmente se desalojó alrégimen de Pol Pot, entre un millón y medio y dosmillones de personas habían sido torturadas, asesinadas o selas había forzado a trabajar hasta morir o a morir dehambre. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Chandler, David.  Brother Number One:  A Political Biography of Pol Pot.  Westview Press, ...

Kiernan, Ben.  How Pol Pot Came to Power. Verso:  London, 1985. ...

Cambodia is a nation that has been scarred by violence and political instability over the past several decades. Recent developments indicate potential for a brighter, more secure future for the country and its people, as the coalition government has been successful in bringing peace and stability to nearly all regions. However, Cambodia remains a dangerous place due mainly to widespread crime, corruption, weak border controls and underdeveloped law enforcement and judicial systems. Individual security awareness should remain constantly high at this post and thoughtful consideration given to all activities. ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TEXT: ROTH TESTIMONY ON CAMBODIA SITUATION

In this regard I should note that the Congress has shown tremendous leadership on the Cambodia issue. Senators Kerry and McCain sent letters to Hun Sen in March and again in May calling for an end to political violence and intimidation and equal access to the media for all political parties. The House, too, has taken initiatives to register its voice on Cambodia. The House passed HR 361 last March, urging the Cambodian government to implement the Paris accords; enforce the rule of law; restore a nonviolent political atmosphere; allow exiled opposition leaders to return and engage freely in political activity; and to create mechanisms to help ensure credible elections. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: State Department Spokesman Boucher Release on Cambodian Law

The United States welcomes the action in the National Assembly of the Cambodian Government unanimously approving a draft law to establish "Extraordinary Chambers" for the investigation and prosecution of senior Khmer Rouge leaders and others who were most responsible for the atrocities of the 1975-79 period in Cambodia. The people of Cambodia can take great pride in this important endeavor to judge the Khmer Rouge leadership. The National Assembly's action represents a major step forward for credible accountability for the massive crimes that took place under the leadership of Pol Pot. While we have not yet had an opportunity to review closely the text of the law approved by the National Assembly, we understand that it adheres to the understanding reached between the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations last summer. We look forward now to further action on the draft law before the Senate of the Government of Cambodia and final consideration by King Sihanouk, as well as fin ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, APRIL 9, 1998

CAMBODIA/POL POT -- Rubin was asked to respond to press reports that the United State plans to capture Cambodian Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. (April 9, The New York Times, "US Is Planning a Move to Seize Pol Pot for Trial: Thais Said to Be Ready to Help Capture Him," by Philip Shenon and Eric Schmitt) ...

MR. RUBIN: Well, maybe you'd have to talk to the reporters who think there's something new. What I can tell you is that we do not know the exact whereabouts of Pol Pot or other senior Khmer Rouge leaders. The situation is extremely uncertain, and we can't either confirm or deny reports that Pol Pot was recently within Thai territory. And therefore, it's inappropriate to speculate beyond that. ... [Read More]

Safe Passage Newsletter: Reinforcing Humanitarian Mine Action and Small Arms and Light Weapons Abatement, June 2005

It was a six and one-half hour drive over some of the worst roads in Cambodia, but for the ten Rotarians bumping down them in November 2004, it was a trip of a lifetime to see two villages along the Thai-Cambodian border demined with funding from our Seattle, Washington District. The villages are located in the middle of the largest minefield in the world, the "K-5 mine belt," laid after Pol Pot’s forces were pushed out of Cambodia and into Thailand. It failed to keep the Khmer Rouge out, and on their return, they emplaced additional mines. Twenty-five years later, these mines are killing and maiming villagers. ... [Read More]