The Role Of Cambodia In The Vietnam War

During the 1960's and 1970's, Cambodia was involved in a civil war and the Vietnam War simultaneously. On March 18, 1969, Operation Menu was executed by President Richard Nixon. This was a secret bombing campaign in eastern Cambodia whose objective was to bomb suspected communist bases, “American B-52s began carpet-bombing eastern Cambodia… was[this]the first course in a four-year bombing campaign that drew Cambodia headlong into the Vietnam War,” (Caught in the Crossfire). American bombers killed Viet Cong troops and civilians alike, inciting outrage from the Cambodian public. This resulted in the creation of the Khmer Rouge which subsequently caused a civil war. The Cambodian Civil War cultivated an environment which allowed the Khmer Rouge
As the neutral country of Cambodia was being drawn into the Vietnam war, Prince Sihanouk, the king of Cambodia, tried to negotiate with China to help them get out the conflict. In his absence, “... a right-wing coalition, led by Lon Nol, removed him from power,” (Cambodia Falls to the Khmer Rouge). Lon Nol became the president of the Khmer Republic while, Sihanouk joined the Khmer Rouge, a communist organization. This caused conflict, “Civil war began wreaking havoc across the country,” (The Khmer Rouge and Cambodia). The Cambodian Civil War officially started on March 11, 1967 and began 8 years of pure chaos for the people in Cambodia, “While this civil war was going on, the Vietnam War was happening right next door. Americans killed over 750,000 Cambodians in the effort to destroy the North Vietnam. It is estimated that over 150,000 Cambodians died in the civil war, most of them,” (The Khmer Rouge and Cambodia). Death became a normal topic for Cambodians during this time. The Khmer Rouge won the civil war on April 17, 1975. This victory lead to a detrimental time in Cambodia, the Cambodian
People were forced to leave the capital, “Khmer Rouge soldiers, young peasants from the provinces, mostly uneducated teenage boys who had never been in a city before, swept through town. They set to their job right away, evacuating Phnom Penh and forcing all of its residents to leave behind all their belongings and march towards the countryside,” (Cambodian Genocide). Any person that seemed intelligent was executed on the spot, “Everyone was forced to leave the cities, including the sick, elderly, and children. People who were too slow or refused to leave were killed on the spot...teachers, doctors, lawyers and even members of the army were immediately killed. Even wearing glasses was enough reason for the Khmer Rouge to murder civilians,” (The Khmer Rouge and Cambodia). Pol pot did not want anyone questioning his power or anyone to have the ability to overthrow the Khmer Rouge. All people’s rights and liberties were taken away, basic activities and freedoms were prohibited, “Music and books were banned along with religion. Temples were destroyed and thousands of monks lost their lives to the regime. Witness accounts have even stated that laughing was a reason to be killed. Relationships were basically outlawed along with most forms of physical affection,” (The Khmer Rouge and Cambodia). People were forced to work without pay and many were killed because of the unhealthy