Pol Pot: The Power Of The Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge, a horrifying experience for the people who were there during those times. Some people were lucky to escape into Thailand but, the people who were not lucky were in hell. Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge over threw the king of Cambodia and stated that “1975 was year zero for his country, resetting the culture of Cambodian people and wiping away old traditions and history so that revolutionaries could rebuild the nation.” “Banks, churches, schools, newspapers, radio, television stations, and any other remnants of a free press were shut down.” People in the city of Cambodia were forced from their homes walking on foot to the countryside to work as farmers. How was the Khmer Rouge able to keep their power? The King
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of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk who was just nineteen years old when he ascended the throne in 1941. The French leaders thought that a young boy would be easily controlled, but “Sihanouk was outspoken in his calls for Cambodia independence.” November 9, 1953 the nation won its independence from France. In 1960s and 1970s, the war happening in the neighboring Vietnam landed into Cambodia, with communist moving across the border to escape the United States military forces. The communist increased support in Cambodia and gave rise to a communist military faction to what was known as the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot, who later becomes leader of the Khmer Rouge, was a “radical Marxist when studying radio electronics in France.” He returned to Cambodia in 1953, he then joined the communist movement. Pol Pot was happy with the independence from France, but also dissatisfied with the monarchy under Sihanouk. Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge to a guerrilla war against Sihanouk’s government. In 1970 Prime Minister Lon Nol established an even more anti-communist policy throughout Cambodia. Lon Nol allied Cambodia with the United States to abolish the monarchy favoring the new Khmer Republic, and attempted to expel Vietnam communists from the country. These events strengthen the Khmer Rouge and increase support for its leader. Pol Pot wanted to lead a new direction for his country. He sought to establish an agrarian utopia based on Marxist principles. To achieve it, he followed the example of a fellow communist Mao Zedong, whom he had met during his travels to China. “Like China’s Cultural Revolution, Cambodia’s program focused on an economic revolution that included forced evacuation of people from the cities to work as farmers, it also included silencing any and all opposition.” From dawn to dusk, workers farmed the fields. “The laborers were fed just one tin of rice every two days, with starvation and disease the natural consequence.” Armed Khmer Rouge guards kept watch to make sure that starving laborers did not eat any of the vegetables, fruit, and rice that they were harvesting. Pol Pot kept any potential opposition at bay. “Throughout the country, anyone Pol Pot suspected of disloyalty was summarily executed without even the most basic of trails. Khmer Rouge soldiers also killed anybody who was educated or wealthy class, since they were not dedicated to agrarian communist ideals. “Teachers, religious leaders, doctors, lawyers, and former government officials were also executed. My mom and dad were in that time when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia.
My mom and her family were lucky to escape into Thailand but for my dad and his family, they were too far away from Thailand and were part of the people who had to work in farms from dawn to dusk separated from each other. My dad said “that about every month the Khmer Rouge let everybody go back to their village and spend time with their family for like 3 days, then have to come back and go back to work.” One day the Vietnam invaded Cambodia and during the war, many people escape. My dad and his family were luckily together at the time they can go back to their village and spend time together, so they escape to Thailand. From there they came into a refugee camp and was there from 3 months. In the end there about 1.7 million of Cambodian died and thanks to the invasion of from Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge fell. Because of the Khmer Rouge forced the people from the city of Cambodia to the countryside to work as farmer, they were able to keep them afraid, tired and starving. I learn that for about 4 years the people who survived the Khmer Rouge event had to experience hell, working from dawn to dust, eating little food every two days, and getting separated from your family, the most horrifying event in Khmer
history.
of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk who was just nineteen years old when he ascended the throne in 1941. The French leaders thought that a young boy would be easily controlled, but “Sihanouk was outspoken in his calls for Cambodia independence.” November 9, 1953 the nation won its independence from France. In 1960s and 1970s, the war happening in the neighboring Vietnam landed into Cambodia, with communist moving across the border to escape the United States military forces. The communist increased support in Cambodia and gave rise to a communist military faction to what was known as the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot, who later becomes leader of the Khmer Rouge, was a “radical Marxist when studying radio electronics in France.” He returned to Cambodia in 1953, he then joined the communist movement. Pol Pot was happy with the independence from France, but also dissatisfied with the monarchy under Sihanouk. Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge to a guerrilla war against Sihanouk’s government. In 1970 Prime Minister Lon Nol established an even more anti-communist policy throughout Cambodia. Lon Nol allied Cambodia with the United States to abolish the monarchy favoring the new Khmer Republic, and attempted to expel Vietnam communists from the country. These events strengthen the Khmer Rouge and increase support for its leader. Pol Pot wanted to lead a new direction for his country. He sought to establish an agrarian utopia based on Marxist principles. To achieve it, he followed the example of a fellow communist Mao Zedong, whom he had met during his travels to China. “Like China’s Cultural Revolution, Cambodia’s program focused on an economic revolution that included forced evacuation of people from the cities to work as farmers, it also included silencing any and all opposition.” From dawn to dusk, workers farmed the fields. “The laborers were fed just one tin of rice every two days, with starvation and disease the natural consequence.” Armed Khmer Rouge guards kept watch to make sure that starving laborers did not eat any of the vegetables, fruit, and rice that they were harvesting. Pol Pot kept any potential opposition at bay. “Throughout the country, anyone Pol Pot suspected of disloyalty was summarily executed without even the most basic of trails. Khmer Rouge soldiers also killed anybody who was educated or wealthy class, since they were not dedicated to agrarian communist ideals. “Teachers, religious leaders, doctors, lawyers, and former government officials were also executed. My mom and dad were in that time when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia.
My mom and her family were lucky to escape into Thailand but for my dad and his family, they were too far away from Thailand and were part of the people who had to work in farms from dawn to dusk separated from each other. My dad said “that about every month the Khmer Rouge let everybody go back to their village and spend time with their family for like 3 days, then have to come back and go back to work.” One day the Vietnam invaded Cambodia and during the war, many people escape. My dad and his family were luckily together at the time they can go back to their village and spend time together, so they escape to Thailand. From there they came into a refugee camp and was there from 3 months. In the end there about 1.7 million of Cambodian died and thanks to the invasion of from Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge fell. Because of the Khmer Rouge forced the people from the city of Cambodia to the countryside to work as farmer, they were able to keep them afraid, tired and starving. I learn that for about 4 years the people who survived the Khmer Rouge event had to experience hell, working from dawn to dust, eating little food every two days, and getting separated from your family, the most horrifying event in Khmer
history.