Cambodia: The Inevitability of Killing Fields
Tamika Borschman
Semester Two
Outcome One
(Major Assessment)
The Killing Fields Were Inevitable
(1. What were the happenings proceeding the event of the Killing Fields?) During the last three decades, Cambodia has suffered through war, political disorder and genocide. On April 17th 1975 after winning the civil war, the Khmer Rouge gained the control of the Phnom Penh. This communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot would cause unimaginable devastation and misery throughout Cambodia for the next three years, eight months and twenty days. The Khmer Rouge forced the people of Cambodia to the countryside and to labor camps. Families were separated, children taken away from their parents. Former city residents would become subject to unending political bombardment and brainwashing. The children were even encouraged to spy on adults, including their parents. Fifteen kilometres outside of Phnom Penh an extermination centre known as the Choeung Ek, or the ‘Killing Fields’, would become a mass grave the size of a soccer field for the many that were killed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Throughout the reign of Pol Pot, many modifications and rules were put in place to validate his communist ideology becoming a reality in Cambodia. These changes caused 1.5 to 3 million people to die from starvation, disease, exposure, by being overworked or were executed for committing crimes. Crimes punishable by death included, not working hard enough, complaining about living conditions, collecting or stealing food for personal consumption, wearing jewellery, engaging in sexual relations, grieving the loss of a family member or friend and expressing religious views. Foreigners were also banished from the country, embassies were closed and currency was abolished. Markets, schools, newspapers, religious practices and private property were all forbidden. To confirm his system to work, members of the government, public servants, police, military
Semester Two
Outcome One
(Major Assessment)
The Killing Fields Were Inevitable
(1. What were the happenings proceeding the event of the Killing Fields?) During the last three decades, Cambodia has suffered through war, political disorder and genocide. On April 17th 1975 after winning the civil war, the Khmer Rouge gained the control of the Phnom Penh. This communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot would cause unimaginable devastation and misery throughout Cambodia for the next three years, eight months and twenty days. The Khmer Rouge forced the people of Cambodia to the countryside and to labor camps. Families were separated, children taken away from their parents. Former city residents would become subject to unending political bombardment and brainwashing. The children were even encouraged to spy on adults, including their parents. Fifteen kilometres outside of Phnom Penh an extermination centre known as the Choeung Ek, or the ‘Killing Fields’, would become a mass grave the size of a soccer field for the many that were killed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Throughout the reign of Pol Pot, many modifications and rules were put in place to validate his communist ideology becoming a reality in Cambodia. These changes caused 1.5 to 3 million people to die from starvation, disease, exposure, by being overworked or were executed for committing crimes. Crimes punishable by death included, not working hard enough, complaining about living conditions, collecting or stealing food for personal consumption, wearing jewellery, engaging in sexual relations, grieving the loss of a family member or friend and expressing religious views. Foreigners were also banished from the country, embassies were closed and currency was abolished. Markets, schools, newspapers, religious practices and private property were all forbidden. To confirm his system to work, members of the government, public servants, police, military
Bibliography: http://www.haivenu-vietnam.com/des-cambodia-killing-fields.htm http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/0110_030110_tvcambodia.html http://www.killingfieldsmuseum.com/genocide1.html http://www.dosomething.org/blog/chatterbox/the-killing-fields-the-genocide-cambodia http://www.cambodia.org/khmer_rouge/ http://www2.fiu.edu/~fcf/polsstilldead41698.html http://teachorbeach.com/?p=693 http://www.perspectivist.com/politics/remembering-the-killing-fields