The Cambodian Genocide was during the time of the Vietnam War. This war is what started the regime. Cambodia was in a civil war for many years. U.S troops, in the Vietnam War, used Cambodia as a regrouping zone. They also bombed most of Cambodia’s countryside. This also made Cambodia's political system weak. The Khmer Rouge took this to …show more content…
Nobody really focused on what was really happening in Cambodia. The US just got out of the Vietnam War and was not prepared and reluctant to get involved in another. Many people knew what was happening was wrong. The public awareness strengthened, but nothing happened. The only time international media focused on the regime was when it was overthrown.
The Khmer Rouge was overthrown in 1979, where Vietnam installed a socialist regime. For a decade, the Khmer Rouge, with the help of China and Soviet Union, fought the Vietnam. It all ended in 1989, when Vietnam withdrew their troops. The US put economic pressure on Cambodia and the Soviet Union did not give the aid they needed. A new government was created, where Prince Sihanouk was elected.
The long term effects of the Cambodian Genocide can still be seen today. One effect is the lost of pretty much a whole generation. This generation is called the “lost generation”. Since millions of people were killed, hardly anyone from that time period is alive. Another effect is the lack of skilled workers. Since all of the educated people were killed, there is nobody to do the skilled positions like lawyers, government, teachers, ect. This was a huge part to me. There are many more long term effects of the Genocide, but I believe these are the major