The Cambodian
genocide of 1975-1979, in which an estimated 1.7 million people lost
their lives (approximately 21% of the country's population), was one
of the worst human tragedies of the last century. The Khmer Rouge,
headed by Pol Pot, combined extremist ideology, ethnic animosity,
and a disregard for human life to carry murder on a massive scale.
To understand Cambodia and appreciate the
delicacy of the situation, one probably has to know something of its
history. Pol Pot (Saloth Sar) was a significant player in
formulating Cambodia's recent history. The majority of people in the
world recognize Cambodia as an underdeveloped country just like any
other. What the majority does not recognize are the atrocities that
people in this country had to experience in the 70s when the Khmer
Rouge was at it's height of savagery. Pol Pot was a man without
conscience and he lacked the most basic human values and preyed on
the innocent and naive citizens of Cambodia. All of this murder was
done in the name of building a communist regime.
In the years that the
Khmer Rouge was in power (around 5 years), almost 1/3 of the
country's men, women, children were killed. Many were tortured for
long periods of time, sometimes for more than 3 years. For years
there was mass-murder in progress and the world didn't even know
about it until it was almost too late. Much of what we understand
about the Pol Pot regime was depicted in the movie "The Killing
Fields." By talking to natives of Cambodia that lived near the
killing fields we were able to hear first hand accounts of the
atrocities that went on at Cheung Ek. It is chilling to hear about
the bloody past that this country had gone through, with millions of
people being executed in the public, starved to death and severely
tortured. For a better understanding of what had happened, perhaps
it's best that you further your investigation by reading the many
reports that are available on the internet. If you are interested in
reading more about the testimonies of Khmer people who lived during
the Pol Pot regime please proceed to "The Death of Pol Pot".
