Marxist government: An all powerful government in which the government would ensure complete equality through complete control (a derivative of communism).Pol Pot was the Leader of the Khmer rouge. He sustained the Khmer rouge rule from 1975-1979. His main goal was to make Cambodia an agricultural Utopia, to put people to work in order to progress as a society that wasn't poisoned by greed and independence. He wanted to make a Commune. Pol Pot desired to Remake Cambodia's government in a way that would allow for total control and a self-sufficient utopia.
Through the direct and indirect actions of the Khmer Rouge, there was an estimated 2 million deaths in southeast Asia related to the tactics of Pol Pot and his ruling of the Khmer rouge. These deaths were caused by starvation, execution, lack of medical attention, or exhaustion.
The beginning of the Khmer Rouge had started in 1960, The Khmer rouge started off as an insurgency that promoted Communism in Cambodia. It was considered a political party, they called themselves the Kampuchea. Before they took over the country, everyone despised the Kampuchea Party because of its communist beliefs. as Pol Pot was trying to gain power, they formed a coup and ousted the Monarch at the time, Prince Norodom. But, the Khmer rouge could not rule the country if they were still hated by everyone else in the country. Pol Pot decided that he would join forces with Prince Norodom in order to gain support and popularity.After a few years, a civil war ensued in Cambodia and the Monarch was having trouble dealing with the opposing force. Throughout the years during the civil war, Pol Pot and his army would start to take more and more control of the land in Cambodia. Eventually, the Khmer took over the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, and seized power from Norodom. Prince Norodom was Exiled, and the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia had begun. the Khmer Rouge now controlled the Entire country.
The very first thing that Pol Pot had done once he gained power was force EVERYONE to work on farms. He thought anyone Intelligent would try to overthrow him, so he decided to kill Everyone that he deemed intelligent. Anyone that was in politics against him or anyone seen as an intellectual was executed. He needed everyone to work in his farms in order for his 'Utopia' to exist. Anyone that he deemed an intellectual would be sent to a torture/death camp, these were located round Cambodia.one of the worst death camps was Tuol Sleng, there was an estimated 17,000 people (men, women and children) that were sent to Toul Sleng to die for being middle class/ intellectuals.
The Khmer Rouge's end was caused by none other than Vietnam. The Khmer rouge had gotten ambitious and decided that they wanted to expand their influence to Vietnam.
Vietnam however, being fresh out of the war against the US and finally having liberty, where not about to let Cambodia take over. The Vietnamese pushed back the Khmer Rouge ended up seizing power from the Khmer rouge and freeing Cambodia from the Grasp of Pol Pot. Vietnam later gave back power to the previous Monarch prince Norodom. This time, the government was reformed from a Monarchy to a constitutional Monarchy.
Pol Pot was later tried in 1997 for his crimes against the state. The trial was purely for show and nothing really happened to Pol Pot aside from house arrest.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/the-khmer-rouge
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-10684399
I found your post easy to follow, which is good considering this seems like a complicated topic to navigate with so many moving pieces. Reading about the Khmer Rouge, it at first reminded me a lot of the Chinese Culture Revolution with Chairman Mao. During that time, Mao also placed people, the young generation specifically, in villages to work on farms so they would learn from the village leaders and not their parents, who could be considered intellectuals. Apparently not too long after the Khmer Rouge took over, they decided to "abolish money, free markets, normal schooling, private property, foreign clothing styles, religious practices, and traditional Khmer culture". This sounds like the foundational building blocks of society, possibly showing their true intentions. Considering all the damage that was done under Pol Pot, I'm slightly surprised all he got after being tried was house arrest.
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https://www.cambodiatribunal.org/history/cambodian-history/khmer-rouge-history/
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post and it gave very good information about the Khmer Rouge. What is interesting to note is the long lasting effects of the Khmer Rouge today. Pol Pot may have killed up to 1/5 of Cambodia's population, and as a result, almost half of the country is below 24 years of age. Only 1/10 are older than 50, so not many people in Cambodia lived through the Khmer Rouge. Politically, the Khmer Rouge led to increased conservatism in Cambodia. Many people fear change because they feel that any change will reverse the progress made since the Khmer Rouge and result in renewed violence and bloodshed.
ReplyDeleteSource: https://time.com/5486460/pol-pot-cambodia-1979/