Wars in Cambodia 1968-1993 Flashcards
Why was Sihanouk overthrown?
Communists - Sihanouk’s actions
- Civil war, Sihanouk vs. urban Cambodian Communist movement. He wins- but led to him seeking Capitalist aid + Lon Nol- to neutralize he needed Moscow aid.
- Sihanouk had the support of 99.8% of voters, had demi-God status.
- Sihanouk was personally extravagant + his court was expensive.
Why was Sihanouk overthrown?
US actions
- Nixon’s Operation Menu 1969, tonnes of bombs dropped on Cambodia, Communists moving deeper into Cambodia.
- Nixon doubled no. of mine-laying missions in 1969, making Communists move in
- Destabilised Sihanouk’s regime.
Why was Sihanouk overthrown?
Lon Nol + Right-Wingers
- Lon Nol overtook Sihanouk when he went to Moscow in search of aid.
- Saigon regime caused 17,000 Khmers to flee Vietnam for Cambodia.
- Sihanouk left the country for too long allowing for an easier takeover.
Why was Lon Nol overthrown?
Lon Nol’s incompetence
- Pulling off babies’ legs in strength competition.
- Regime violently killing off ethnic-Vietnamese
- Lon Nol seen as responsible for US bombings.
Why was Lon Nol overthrown?
Communist strength
- Assisted by Vietnamese Communists.
- Played on people’s fear of US control
- Promised land reform to Peasant dominated Cambodia.
Why was Lon Nol overthrown?
US Actions
- US invaded Cambodia in 1970, with Lon Nol’s permission, many died.
- 50,000-150,000 killed in bombing campaigns from 69-73, want to support Pol Pot.
- Cambodians alienated by the US invasions.
Pol Pot’s regime
Communism
- Took 3yrs for people to notice he was in charge.
- Bans religion + Family life.
- Ended private ownership
- Money no longer existed
- Downgrading of intellectuals, glasses wearers
- Emptied cities for field laborers.
- No individualism
Pol Pot’s regime
Nationalism
- S21, 250,000 ethnic Chinese murdered + ethnic minorities targetted.
- Excluded foreign visitors + influence from 1975.
- Aimed to wipe out the Vietnamese.
- No reports of Vietnamese ethnic groups surviving
- Proportionately more people died from ethnic minorities.
- Pol Pot himself was taught Vietnamese were the enemies in youth.
VIETNAM HAD TO INVADE BECAUSE HE WAS THAT RACIST
Who was responsible for ending the conflict in Cambodia?
USSR*
- Brezhnev 1978 treaty with Vietnam
- Gorbachev (Soviet leader) pushed for the Vietnamese to leave in 1989.
- Rival China, so supported the Vietnamese w/ weapons.
Who was responsible for ending the conflict in Cambodia?
UN
- 1979 condemned Vietnam and supported Pol Pot
- Up until ‘92, supported KR
- Introduced democracy in Cambodia, but w/ corrupt leaders.
Who was responsible for ending the conflict in Cambodia?
USA
- Supported China’s attack of Vietnam.
- Supported KR by giving them seat on the UN
- But condemned Pol Pot?
Who was responsible for ending the conflict in Cambodia?
China
- 1979, invaded Vietnam with 33,000 ground troops.
- Continued to support KR in exile $100m/yr.
Why did the Vietnamese intervene in Cambodia in 1978 / Pol Pot fail?
Anti-Vietnamese purge [3] *
- At least 100,000 branded as “Khmer bodies with Vietnamese minds” were exterminated in 6 months
- Khmer Rogue called for a radio broadcast to “exterminate the 50 million Vietnamese”
- Pol Pot killed the Vietnamese brutally, and he was very anti-Vietnamese
Why did the Vietnamese intervene in Cambodia in 1978 / Pol Pot fail?
Refugees fleeing into Vietnam from Cambodia [3]
- 375,000 Cambodian refugees fled Pol Pot’s brutal regime into Vietnam
- General Westmoreland’s ‘search and destroy’ tactics pushed Communist forces into Cambodia in search of sanctuary
- Anti-Vietnamese purge deterred refugees into Vietnam
Why did the Vietnamese intervene in Cambodia in 1978 / Pol Pot fail?
Competition over territory & desire to dominate Indochina [3]
- Frequent border clashes - 1977 Cambodia crossed into Vietnam, tried to intimidate Vietnamese
- 1976 - Vietnamese air raid on Cambodia - continued throughout Pol Pot’s rise & leadership
- September 1977 - Cambodian raids over border - Vietnamese claimed 1,000 had been killed or injured
