Cambodia

Question 1

When did Pol Pot take control of Cambodia?

Answer 1

1975

Question 2

Who was Pol Pot?

Answer 2

Leader of the Khmer Rouge Guerrilas who tried to turn Cambodia into a self-sufficient, agrarian (agricultural) utopia

Question 3

Who did the Khmer Rouge murder?

Answer 3

Anyone who:
•was Western educated
•wore glasses
•had traveled
•was a foreigner
•was a counter-revolutionary

Question 4

Approximately how many people did the Cambodian Genocide claim (and what percentage of the population was this?)

Answer 4

approx. 1.7 Million people

21%

Question 5

Why were North Vietnam and Vietcong forces inside Cambodia?

What year were they established?

Answer 5

Nth Vietnam and VC forces established sanctuaries inside Cambodia in 1965-66 in order to infiltrate men and materials across Sth Vietnams border

Question 6

Why did Sihanouk allow the Vietcong to have sanctuaries in Cambodia?

Answer 6

Cambodia’s King Sihanouk agreed to these sanctuaries in return for Hanoi’s promise that Cambodia would not be invaded

Question 7

What was Cambodia’s stance on Communism?

Answer 7

Cambodia was neutral however when U.S.A. President Nixon found out about Vietcong sanctuaries he assumed Cambodia supported the Nth Vietnamese

Question 8

What did US President Nixon do in 1969?

Answer 8

Nixon launched ‘operation menu’; a secret bombing of Cambodia in order to destroy VC bases which resulted in a devastating effect on Cambodian villages

Question 9

Who was Lon Nol?

Answer 9

Cambodia’s army chief of staff

Question 10

When did Lon Nol lead a coup against Sihanouk?

Answer 10

18th March 1970

Question 11

How did Lon Nol overthrow Sihanouk?

Answer 11

Lon Nol had the support of the United States as he was pro-US and anti-communist.