Cambodia's efforts to recover from decades of war were shattered by a military coup by one of its co-premiers and the reemergence of Pol Pot, who led the nation during the notorious "Killing Fields" period.
After years of civil war, U.N.-run elections in 1993 were designed to create a stable government: Power would be shared by two premiers, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen.
The two men set up a power-sharing coalition and focused their attention on defeating Khmer Rouge guerrillas. But in July 1997, Hun Sen turned against his co-premier, ousting him after two bloody days of fighting. International observers condemned the takeover.
Pol Pot was being held by Khmer Rouge rebels and was sentenced to life under house arrest at a show trial, on charges stemming from the murder of his defense chief.
Others hope he will one day face international prosecution for genocide in the deaths of some 2 million Cambodians during his rule.
Land and People | History |
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DEMOGRAPHICS
- Population:
- 10,700,000
- Average life span:
- 53 male, 55 female
- Average yearly income ($US):
- $160
- GDP per capita ($US):
- $639
- Literacy rate:
- 35%
THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
- Capital:
- Phnom Penh
- Size:
- 69,898 square miles (181,035 sq. km)
- (Between the size of Missouri and Oklahoma)
- Government type:
- In transition
- Political leaders:
- Premier Hun Sen
- Religions:
- Buddhist (95%)
- Languages:
- Khmer (official); French
HISTORY
- 600 AD -- The Cambodian region becomes part of the Khmer Empire, which rules most of Indo-China.
- 1863 -- France establishes a protectorate.
- 1942-1945 -- The region is occupied by Imperial Japanese forces.
- 1953 -- Cambodia becomes independent under Prince Norodom Sihanouk.
- 1960 -- Sihanouk is named head of state in a constitutional monarchy.
- 1970 -- As the Vietnam War rages on Cambodia's border, Sihanouk is ousted by pro-U.S. General Lon Nol.
- 1975 -- Pol Pot's Marxist Khmer Rouge defeat government forces and establish the Kampuchean People's Republic (Kampuchea).
- 1975-1978 -- Pol Pot leads a brutal reign of terror in which an estimated three million people died. Hundreds of thousands flee to refugee camps in Thailand.
- 1978-1985 -- Vietnam invades Cambodia; after driving Pol Pot's forces into the countryside, it installs a new government.
- 1989 -- Vietnamese forces withdraw and the civil war resumes.
- 1991 -- U.N. brokers cease-fire.
- 1993 -- Royalist Party wins U.N. supervised elections; defeated Premier Hun Sen joins coalition cabinet as "second premier;" Sihanouk's son Prince Norodom Ranariddh is "first premier."
- 1997 -- After defeating the Khmer Rouge and capturing Pol Pot, Hun Sen ousts his co-premier in two days of fighting.
FINANCIAL
- Monetary unit:
- Riel
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