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The History Of the Khmers | Print |
General History

In the first century AD the Kingdom of Funan set the foundations for the Khmer people with culture and religion influenced by Indian civilisation. It grew along the Gulf of Siam and the plains of the lower Mekong River, as far as the Mekong delta of Vietnam, together with parts of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. This kingdom was subsequently conquered by Chenla and then the Khmer Empire emerged after consolidating westwards at the beginning of the 9th century following the invasion of the Java Empire.

The Khmer Empire prospered until the early 13th century, stretching to the Thai-Burma border in the west and into Laos in the north. The seat of power was the Angkor Wat complex of temples to the north of the Great Lake, Ton-le-Sap. The empire then declined, particularly after 1431 when Angkor was sacked, and several centuries had feuds with Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. The period between the 15th and 19th centuries are referred to as a dark period with the power base shifting to Phnom Penh, the present capital.

Modern History (click here)

The country was "rediscovered" by the Frenchman Henri Moulet in 1861 and became a French protectorate in 1864, although falling briefly under Japanese authority during World War II. French colonisation protected Cambodia from being swallowed up either by Thailand to the west or by Vietnam to the east .

Prince Norodom Sihanouk was crowned King by the French in 1941 and Cambodia finally regained independence in 1953. Sihanouk abdicated to become Head of State and struggled against communism over the next few years which is when the Khmer Rouge first emerged. Sihanouk broke diplomatic relations with the USA in 1965.

Opposition to Sihanouk grew within Cambodian society particularly with his policies of facilitating the North Vietnamese (Vietcong) with sanctuaries on Cambodian soil in their fight against South Vietnam, the latter backed by the USA. Autocracy, unpredictability and corruption became hallmarks of government. These issues further fuelled the resolve and growth of the Khmer Rouge to oppose Sihanouk.

Recent History - Three Decades of Turmoil (click here)

  • 1970: Head of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, is deposed in a US backed coup led by General Lon Nol. Sihanouk chooses to align himself with his former enemies, the Khmer Rouge.
  • 1972: Two million Cambodians are made homeless by the escalating war between Lon Nol and the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot.
  • 1973: Massive US bombing raids take place in Cambodia, only terminated by act of Congress.
  • 1975: The Khmer Rouge enters Phnom Penh and form the government of Democratic Kampuchea (DK), restoring Kampuchea as the traditional name for the country. General Lon Nol escapes to the USA. The population of major cities is forced into hard labour in the countryside in agricultural based communes controlled by harsh Khmer Rouge leaders. An unprecedented period of genocide and horror follows, perceived as being a terrible backlash against the inequality, injustice and corruption of previous regimes.
  • 1978: Vietnam invades Kampuchea on Christmas Day bringing an end to the "Killing Fields" era when lives, property and infrastructure were destroyed and the country reduced to "Year Zero". The Khmer Rouge regroup in the north west and over the Thailand border.
  • 1979: Phnom Penh is captured by the Vietnamese on January 7th, and they install Heng Samrin as Head of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). Continuing conflict and famine cause Cambodians to flee to Thailand. The extent of Khmer Rouge atrocities becomes evident: At least 1.7 million inhabitants have perished; infrastructure is in ruins; skilled and professional classes have been 'eradicated' with, for instance, only 45 doctors remaining; no schools; books burned.
  • 1979-1989: International humanitarian relief effort supports Khmer refugees in Thailand. Kampuchea is isolated politically. Hun Sen is appointed Prime Minister. A war of attrition is fought by a Cambodian coalition in exile, including strong remnants of the Khmer Rouge, based in Thailand with support from China and the West. In Cambodia the PRK is supported by Vietnam and the Soviet Union. Millions of mines are laid particularly in the fertile NW region.
  • 1989: Vietnamese troops withdraw. The PRK adopts a liberal democratic constitution and establishes the State of Cambodia, replacing the name Kampuchea although this is still used internally.
  • 1990: Soviet Union assistance ceases after their own collapse following the Berlin Wall removal and the reassignment of power in the Soviet Bloc. Western groups begin to offer development assistance. The Cambodian Church is given official recognition for the first time since 1975, having suffered terribly in the Killing Fields.
  • 1991: The Paris Peace Accord is signed by all factions. A Supreme National Council is formed with Sihanouk as Chairman. Political isolation ends and Sihanouk distances himself from the Khmer Rouge.
  • 1992: UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) is established. Repatriation of 360,000 Cambodians in Thai border camps begins. The Khmer Rouge withdraw from the democratic process and maintain substantial guerrilla activities from bases in the north west of Cambodia.
  • 1993: Elections take place without the Khmer Rouge. A coalition government is established with two Prime Ministers, Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Sihanouk's son. A constitutional monarchy is formed with King Norodom Sihanouk as Head of State.
  • 1997: The Khmer Rouge threat diminishes. Fighting breaks out between the Cambodian People's Party (CPP, formerly the PRK) and the Royalists (FUNCINPEC) and results in realignment of power more in favour of CPP. Political outlook is unpredictable. Tourism and investor confidence decline sharply .
  • 1998: Pol Pot dies, ending the reign of the Khmer Rouge. General Elections are held in July. After months of deadlock following complaints about election procedures, a coalition government is formed. Hun Sen is established as sole Prime Minister. The country is dependant on large international aid.
  • 1999: Cambodia regains its UN seat and joins the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Discussions begin on bringing former Khmer Rouge leaders to trial. The issues of education, health, poverty, land mines, corruption, illegal logging and AIDS now replace the Khmer Rouge as the nation's major problems.
  • 2000: The Khmer Rouge trials are still awaited amidst disagreement with the UN over tribunal legalisation. Cambodia's economy is growing but with inequality of wealth and opportunity especially in rural areas. Over half the population is under 19. The Christian church has grown about 100 fold in the 10 years since 1990. Army demobilisation starts but very slowly. China increases its aid and influence. Flooding is the worst for 80 years.
  • 2001: Tourism grows. Cambodia has the largest prevalence of HIV/AIDS outside Africa. Prostitution and child abuse are large problems. Hun Sen promises political, judicial and economic reforms to appease international donors. Industry grows, particularly textiles, but Cambodia is one of the world's poorest countries.
  • 2002: Democratic local elections are held for the first time ever with overwhelming success for the CPP. Hun Sen takes the rotating chair of ASEAN. King Sihanouk remains as constitutional monarch but has ailing health. The Khmer Rouge trials are still delayed.

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