The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, was a communist organization that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. During their tenure, the regime implemented radical policies that led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people, out of a population of approximately 8 million, due to executions, forced labor, starvation, and disease. The Khmer Rouge's ideology was rooted in a radical form of agrarian socialism, which aimed to transform Cambodia into a self-sufficient agrarian society, free from the influence of Western capitalism and urban culture.
The Rise of the Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge was formed in the 1960s, and its leadership, including Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, and Ta Mok, were influenced by the teachings of Marxist-Leninist ideology and the example of the Chinese Communist Party. The organization gained support from the rural population, who were dissatisfied with the government of Lon Nol, which had overthrown the monarchy in 1970. The Khmer Rouge’s military campaign, supported by China and North Vietnam, ultimately led to the capture of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, on April 17, 1975.
Policies and Practices of the Khmer Rouge
Upon taking power, the Khmer Rouge implemented a series of radical policies, including the forced relocation of urban populations to rural areas, the abolition of money, markets, and private property, and the establishment of agricultural communes. The regime also implemented a policy of ethnic cleansing, targeting minority groups, including Vietnamese, Chinese, and Muslims, as well as intellectuals, professionals, and members of the middle class. The Khmer Rouge’s security apparatus, known as the Santebal, was responsible for the arrest, torture, and execution of suspected enemies of the state, including those accused of being members of the former government, intellectuals, and members of minority groups.
| Year | Estimated Death Toll |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 100,000 - 200,000 |
| 1976 | 200,000 - 300,000 |
| 1977 | 300,000 - 400,000 |
| 1978 | 400,000 - 500,000 |
| 1979 | 500,000 - 600,000 |
The Fall of the Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge’s regime was eventually toppled by the Vietnamese army, which invaded Cambodia in December 1978 and installed a new government, led by Heng Samrin. Pol Pot and other Khmer Rouge leaders fled to the countryside, where they continued to wage a guerrilla war against the new government. In 1997, Pol Pot ordered the execution of one of his top deputies, Son Sen, and his family, which led to a split within the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot died in 1998, while under house arrest, without ever being brought to trial for his crimes.
Legacy of the Khmer Rouge
The legacy of the Khmer Rouge is one of unimaginable suffering and tragedy. The regime’s policies and practices resulted in the deaths of nearly a quarter of the Cambodian population, and the country’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric were left in ruins. The Khmer Rouge’s ideology and practices have been widely condemned as a form of auto-genocide, in which a regime targets its own population for destruction. In 2007, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) was established to try senior Khmer Rouge leaders for their roles in the genocide and other crimes against humanity. In 2018, the ECCC convicted two top Khmer Rouge leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, of genocide and crimes against humanity.
What was the main ideology of the Khmer Rouge?
+The main ideology of the Khmer Rouge was a radical form of agrarian socialism, which aimed to transform Cambodia into a self-sufficient agrarian society, free from the influence of Western capitalism and urban culture.
How many people died during the Khmer Rouge’s rule?
+An estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people died during the Khmer Rouge’s rule, out of a population of approximately 8 million, due to executions, forced labor, starvation, and disease.
What was the fate of Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge?
+Pol Pot died in 1998, while under house arrest, without ever being brought to trial for his crimes.
