Cambodia Cambodia and Pol and Pol

Pot’s Killing Pot’s Killing FieldsFields

1975: “A New Epoch” in 1975: “A New Epoch” in civilizationcivilization

• A Racially Pure UTOPIA• Purge enemies of the state 1/4 of

the population is estimated to have been killed

• The Youth (age 12 or younger) into The Youth (age 12 or younger) into KillersKillers

• Cut-off from familiesCut-off from families• Society against family/gov.Society against family/gov.• An attempt to surpass Mao’s An attempt to surpass Mao’s Great Great

LeapLeap

• U.S. bombing U.S. bombing

raids on raids on civilians de-civilians de-stabilized the stabilized the governmentgovernment

• Cambodian Cambodian CommunistsCommunists

• April 1975 the April 1975 the Khmer Rouge Khmer Rouge enters capitalenters capital

Vietnam War and Vietnam War and the Ho Chi Min Trailthe Ho Chi Min Trail

• Cities were “tainted”: full of deviations Cities were “tainted”: full of deviations and lapses of virtueand lapses of virtue

• Cities emptied out in 1 week. 60% of Cities emptied out in 1 week. 60% of population exiled from residencepopulation exiled from residence

• Peasant farmers vs. city folksPeasant farmers vs. city folks• ““Enemies of the People” (eyeglasses, Enemies of the People” (eyeglasses,

books)books)• Hoes were used as method of executionHoes were used as method of execution

1975: Khmer Rouge 1975: Khmer Rouge enters capitalenters capital

1975: Khmer Rouge 1975: Khmer Rouge enters capitalenters capital

Pol Pot & Pol Pot & The Democratic KampucheaThe Democratic Kampuchea

• Pol Pot an assumed namePol Pot an assumed name• Obscured and UnknownObscured and Unknown• No statues, no No statues, no

omnipresent photsomnipresent phots• Own family was shockedOwn family was shocked

Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, MaoMao

The Year ZeroThe Year Zero

Utopia and Utopia and the New Societythe New Society

• ““Losing you is not a loss; keeping Losing you is not a loss; keeping you is not a gain.”you is not a gain.”

• Cut the country off from the WorldCut the country off from the World• Money was abolishedMoney was abolished• Total collectivizationTotal collectivization• All Cambodians ordered to wear All Cambodians ordered to wear

black clothesblack clothes• Religion, writing, and education all Religion, writing, and education all

disappeareddisappeared• Only arranged marriages approved Only arranged marriages approved

by Khmer Rougeby Khmer Rouge

The Killing Fields:The Killing Fields:Pits where bodies were Pits where bodies were

thrownthrown

The Killing FieldsThe Killing Fields• Collapse of agriculture led to famine Collapse of agriculture led to famine

and cannibalismand cannibalism• Purged itself Purged itself • 1997 Pol Pot arrested for treason1997 Pol Pot arrested for treason• 1998 died in the jungle1998 died in the jungle• The skeletons of the killing fields The skeletons of the killing fields

todaytoday