The Khmer Rouge not only changed Cambodia but essentially destroyed it, leaving a trail of political and social destruction behind. The Khmer Rouge was responsible for turning Cambodia into one huge labour camp, killing hundreds of thousands of people, and ruining the lives of those who weren’t killed. They emptied hospitals of their patients and withdrew citizens from cities, making this one of the most inhumane and brutal regimes in human history. After being tortured for years by the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia was finally rescued by Vietnam.
During 1969, the US began a secret bombing campaign against North Vietnamese Militants on Cambodian soil, opening up opportunities for other governments to take over. In 1970, the popular ruler of Cambodia, …show more content…
Although Pol Pot had thousands of new bank notes printed, he eventually deemed all money as worthless, he also curtailed all basic freedoms and every religion was banned in the newly named Kampuchea. A fundamental policy of the Khmer Rouge was Radical Agrarian Marxism (RAM). RAM aimed to convert Cambodia into a nation of uneducated, rural peasants. RAM was achieved through Angkar, the faceless government. The people of Cambodia were told that if they obeyed Angkar than Angkar would provide people with guidance towards a prosperous new state. All cultural inventions and values were not to be tolerated. Personal identities were no longer valid and everyone was made to wear black garments. This year is coined by the Khmer Rouge as “Year Zero”, the year that would restart the culture and society of Cambodia before destroying all known history of the Buddhist state. The Khmer Rouge ‘cleansed’ the city of Phnom Penh of any belongings, technology, or ideas of western decent and/or origin; electricity, cars, power lines, phones, archival materials were all demolished. The Khmer Rouge also went through the city and purged people in what is seen as mass murder, leaving families torn apart and homes to gather dust in the tragedies of the
During 1969, the US began a secret bombing campaign against North Vietnamese Militants on Cambodian soil, opening up opportunities for other governments to take over. In 1970, the popular ruler of Cambodia, …show more content…
Although Pol Pot had thousands of new bank notes printed, he eventually deemed all money as worthless, he also curtailed all basic freedoms and every religion was banned in the newly named Kampuchea. A fundamental policy of the Khmer Rouge was Radical Agrarian Marxism (RAM). RAM aimed to convert Cambodia into a nation of uneducated, rural peasants. RAM was achieved through Angkar, the faceless government. The people of Cambodia were told that if they obeyed Angkar than Angkar would provide people with guidance towards a prosperous new state. All cultural inventions and values were not to be tolerated. Personal identities were no longer valid and everyone was made to wear black garments. This year is coined by the Khmer Rouge as “Year Zero”, the year that would restart the culture and society of Cambodia before destroying all known history of the Buddhist state. The Khmer Rouge ‘cleansed’ the city of Phnom Penh of any belongings, technology, or ideas of western decent and/or origin; electricity, cars, power lines, phones, archival materials were all demolished. The Khmer Rouge also went through the city and purged people in what is seen as mass murder, leaving families torn apart and homes to gather dust in the tragedies of the