How Did The Khmer Rouge Cause A Genocide

The Khmer Rouge era in Cambodia is seen as one of the most vicious acts of human cruelty in Southeast Asia. Not only did it cause a genocide in the nation, but its ripple effects are still felt throughout the region today. This essay will discuss the regime; it’s fall, the legacy that was left behind and finally how Cambodia is now today because of the era. The Khmer Rouge was the name given to the Communist followers and party of Kampuchea in Cambodia, which was formed in 1968. This brutal organisation is remembered throughout Cambodian history for its genocide of the Cambodian population after the enforcement of social engineering policies, which lead to the “killing fields” from 1975 – 1979. Looking back on the history of this nation, and
the events which occurred from 1968 onwards, not only shaped the future of Cambodia, but also showed the brutality the nation caused to it’s people under the spread of communism which occurred in Southeast Asia after world war two.

This regime not only isolated the country from other southeast Asian nations, it also aimed to block out all foreign influences that could be seen as a threat to the nation.
The Khmer Rouge’s main objective was to turn Cambodia into a classless society, one in which that follows the strict structure of Communism, which was mainly influenced by it’s Vietnamese allies. One of the ways in which it tried to do this was deurbanising the population and creating agricultural communes. Although they were referred to as communes by the Khmer Rouge, however they were more like labour camps, similar to those that Hitler enforced throughout Nazi Germany. The population was expected to produce three tonnes of rice per hectare, where previously, before the Khmer Rouge era, only one tonne of rice per hectare was usually produced . The once urban workers, who were forced to become farmer, trying to meet this demand ultimately lead to a widespread famine. Deaths occurred due to exhausting workdays, inadequate food, and more importantly widespread executions. These new working conditions are only one aspect of the brutality of the regime inflicted to the people. Not only was money abolished, but also the destruction of books occurred, and the execution of the educated elite, more importantly teachers, was ensued to make way for a new state of communism surrounded by agricultural reform . Schools, hospitals and also banks were also closed to further make way for the communist reform and to
also eradicate 2000 years of history from Cambodia as a way for the Khmer Rouge to start fresh with the nation and it’s people. In their time of power this regime not only starved its population, it also executed anyone opposed to their control and anyone deemed to be undesirable. Craig Etcheson describes in his book about the Cambodian genocide as “one of the worst genocides of modern times, killing over a third of the population, and even killing those who wore glasses in fear of their intellectual ability” . People living under this regime could also be killed for trying to escape the communes, breaking rules or even those believed to be undermining the news state. Religion was also banned under the new rule and significant language reforms were also in place to change the social order of the people. They were now forced to use communist appropriate terms like “comrade”, or “friend” when greeting each other. The truth is that the Khmer Rouge inflicted not only a new nation for Cambodia but also a severe level of violence upon its people “rarely matched in the history of the world” . This violence was not only criminal in nature, but also one of the worst disasters to occur in Cambodia throughout its long history. Members of the Khmer Rouge often defined their rule to be political in nature, however this is not it’s element, although motivated by politics, it can be more accurately described as a criminal organisation .

In December 1978, the Vietnamese government along with their armed forces and the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, invaded Cambodia with the aim of bring the Khmer Rouge’s rule to an end. They were able to do so successfully in January 1979, which lead to the regime retreating west and managing to maintain control in small areas throughout Cambodia and near Thailand for the next ten years. Their bases were not well managed and often were funded by smuggling diamonds and timber with military assistance from China. Vietnams eventual victory of the nation, which was maintained by Soviet support, had very significant ramifications for the region. Eastern and central Cambodia were firmly under Vietnamese control and its allies by 1980 , while the western part of the nation was still under the control of the Khmer Rouge. In 1981, the Khmer Rouge moved further away from Communism to more so towards an ideal of nationalism and anti-Vietnamese. They officially renounced communism at this time also to gain the interest of the people. Their whole move for power had always been more “nationalist than with revolutionary idealism” . For several years majority of Cambodia was under the control of Communist Vietnam, however in 1985, Vietnam declared their withdrawal from Cambodia due to the lack of re-emergence from the Khmer Rouge, they were able to officially depart their forced by 1989, with the confidence that the government they had initiated there to remain influential and rule sufficiently. After ten years of conflict, the new Cambodian government, erected by Vietnam, signed a treaty in 1991 with the rebel coalition, which led to elections and disarmament throughout the nation. Although this created a sense of security for the people of Cambodia, by 1992 the Khmer Rouge has resumed fighting within the region, boycotted elections and further rejected the new government instilled in Cambodia. This unrest continued through to 1998, with majorty of the Khmer Rouge’s supporters, forces and leaders withdrawing from the cause and in December of that year, the remaining leaders apologised for the genocide that occurred in the 1970s and by 1999 remaining leaders, members and supporters had surrendered or been captured ultimately leading to the extinction of the regime of the Khmer Rouge .

The legacy of the Khmer Rouge not only instilled a dehumanisation of a nation but further demonstrated not only the ability of its leaders, but also the ability of a nation to create a mass genocide for its population.
After rising up through the government to take power the once peaceful country of Cambodia was transformed into a radical socialist society, one in which the policies could be described as harsh as the Third Reich in Hitler’s Germany. Every single person under their control was in some way brutalised by this government, creating a ripple effect, which can only be described as criminal now that survivors have come out to describe and recount their stories. With the stigma attached to not only being within the communes, the former leaders and members of the Khmer Rouge, recounts of this period in history is as Michael Doyle describes “every person, whether they be Khmer Rouge members or survivor’s, have a story to tell, one in which has family members and friends who were either killed or tortured under this rule” . This not only shows the brutality the population faced but also the sacrifice in which families faced whether they be supporters or not. Members of families were either forced to communes or likely never seen again and disappeared in suspicious circumstances. Its only now that families have discovered the extent in which their relatives and friends were killed. Some Cambodians who lived through this regime believe that the Khmer Rouge needs to be
forgotten so that the nation can move forward, and others believe that out of respect for the victims, this period of history needs to me remembered and immortalised throughout Cambodia in order to prevent a similar devastation happening to the nation again . Many now call for a tribunal in order to discover buried truth and to also prosecute any remaining leaders as their rule can only be described as war crimes. The Cambodian Prime Minster addressed the people in response to a tribunal declining it by stating “dig a hole, and bury the past” , he later claimed to support the tribunal when he discovered that creating one would allow for Cambodia to receive millions of dollars in foreign aid to help bring justice for those still suffering from the era. If you survived you not only lost loved ones but also were subjected to horrors that no human being should have to face. Children became orphaned, and lost family names when the Khmer Rouge relaced them with new names. After the collapse of the Khmer Rouge survivors would gather in the community and recount their stories on the Day of Hate and weep at remembrance of those who suffered and were killed . Furthermore to help the next generation understand the brutality that their elders faced in order to prevent it from happening again, although most often choose to remain silent about what happened in order to move on and deal with what happened. It is reported that now some former Khmer Rouge members are working within Cambodia’s civil service and are in high positions in the government. Foreign minister Hor Namhong has been accused as having previous ties with the Khmer Rouge, mainly due to his involvement as heading one of their detention camps, he however denies these claims . Furthermore it is estimated that 30% of Cambodia’s population suffer from some form of PTSD after the events created by the Khmer Rouge, this is due to the lack of mental health services outside of urban areas, and also a lack of qualified psychiatrist who were all sent to the killing fields during the era due to their qualifications . It is also evident that most survivors continue to suffer with bodily ailments, flashbacks and nightmares, further exaggerating the need for a tribunal in order to bring some form of closure to the survivors and an understanding of their suffering for other nations to comprehend. A tribunal was established in 1997 and called the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), or more so known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. It has been able to prosecute those involved in their crimes against humanity with various leaders and members now either facing life sentences in prison or awaiting their further trials for their crimes.