Cambodia Flashcards
What was good about Sihanouk’s domestic policy?
Announced abdication and freedom to participate in polictics which gave him respect and limited ceremonial duties
99.8% of voters approved him
Silenced opposers through censorship, arrests and executions
What was bad about his domestic polices?
Over half were in chronic debt 1950-60
Portion of landless farmers rose from 4% to 20%
Harder to find employment after he increased schools e.t.c so illiterate Cambodians turned to communism
People socialist community was undemocratic I.e. rigged elections
What was good about sihanouks foreign policies?
Cambodia’s communists had been helpful in war for Cambodian independence
His aim for neutrality appealed to moderate nationalists
What was bad about sihanouks foreign policy?
He had accepted aid from both China and us (1954)
1964 he dispenses us aid and expelled us citizens leading us to retaliate by appealing to Cambodian army officers
Allowed NLF to establish permanent sanctuaries in Cambodia
Why did Right Wingers cause Sihanouk to be overthrown?
Lon Nol’s troops angered peasant which pushed them to support KR who opposed Sihanouk
Rebellion pushed the government to the right so they gained greater influence
When Sihanouk had left for France and Moscow, Lon now seized opportunity to overthrow
Usually Supported by middle class/senior military men who opposed Sihanouk
US military and right wingers supported the overthrow 91-1
Why did problems with his regime cause Sihanouk to be overthrown?
His free elections were very conservative
He was ruthless e.g. beheaded and disembowelled rebels, ordered roasting of a captured Vietnamese communist
Nixon’s bombing and mine laying pushed communists further into Cambodia which destabilises Sihanouk regime even more
Why were US actions a reason why he was overthrown?
Search and destroy pushed communists into Cambodia
Vietnamese harvests struggled due to reasons like US agent orange so smuggled rice from export and lost export duties
Operation menu 1969-70
Nixon doubled number of reconnaissance and mine laying than LBJ in 1969
Why was the Khmer rouges strength a factor in him being overthrown?
The NV intervention in Cambodia grew the Cambodian communists
Waged war on sihanouks government from 1967 - government repression of left was insufficient to destroy them
Right wingers idiocy pushed peasantry to support KR
Pol pot encouraged by China and had great influence
40,000 in strength and waged a 3 year civil war
How did events in Vietnam effect Cambodia’s finances?
Vietnamese rice suffered in harvest so smuggled out of Cambodia which caused loss of export duties
What were reasons for first civil war 1967-70?
Increased government repression of left
Elections very conservative
Increased influence of anti-Vietnamese Pol Pot who was encouraged by China
Increased US involvement in Cambodia
Why did the rebellion fail?
Many pro-Vietnamese amongst the Cambodian communists were unenthusiastic participants
Proved impossible to overcome sihanouks prestige
His response was ruthless
Rebel forces not numerous e.g. around 2,000-4,000 in 1969
What was examples of increased US involvement in Cambodia?
Sihanouk moved to repair relations with us after sino-Cambodian relations deteriorated
Invited JFK’s widow out and indicated to LBJ that American anti-communist activity in Cambodia would be acceptable
He agreed to recon assailants and mine laying which was doubled by Nixon
Operation Menu - over 3600 B-52 raids
What happened when Pol Pot came to power?
Led the Khmer Rouge (since 1962) into Phnom Penh on April 17th
Evacuated the city within days to avoid Vietnamese invasion
How was his regime brutal?
Tuol Sleng and S21
Moved everyone to peasant villages as he saw peasants as the real Cambodians
Killed anyone with modern ideas e.g. teachers, doctors, monks e.t.c
Only revealed himself as leader in 1977
Killed a quarter of his population (around 2million) from starvation,executions e.t.c ethnic cleansing
Killed if had Vietnamese wife and didn’t abandon her or for being married to her in first place, killed officials due to paranoia executed 18 central members of KR only 4 survived
How did Pol Pot come to power?
Us actions - bombing, agent orange and rice smuggling, invading Cambodia
Lon nol unpopular - regime violent, many still supported Sihanouk, Mekong river became clogged with dead bodies
Strength of communists - promised land reform, defeated Lon nols regime, 40,000 Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, well organised and determined and popular amongst peasantry
Sihanouk actions - peasants supported him and he turned to KR
