2. 1975: “A New Epoch” in1975: “A New Epoch” in
civilizationcivilization
• A Racially Pure UTOPIA
• Purge enemies of the state 1/4 of the
population is estimated to have been
killed
• The Youth (age 12 or younger) into KillersThe Youth (age 12 or younger) into Killers
• Cut-off from familiesCut-off from families
• Society against family/gov.Society against family/gov.
• An attempt to surpass Mao’sAn attempt to surpass Mao’s Great LeapGreat Leap
3. • U.S. bombingU.S. bombing
raids onraids on
civilians de-civilians de-
stabilized thestabilized the
governmentgovernment
• CambodianCambodian
CommunistsCommunists
• April 1975 theApril 1975 the
Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge
enters capitalenters capital
Vietnam War and the Ho ChiVietnam War and the Ho Chi
Min TrailMin Trail
4. • Cities were “tainted”: full of deviations andCities were “tainted”: full of deviations and
lapses of virtuelapses of virtue
• Cities emptied out in 1 week. 60% ofCities emptied out in 1 week. 60% of
population exiled from residencepopulation exiled from residence
• Peasant farmers vs. city folksPeasant farmers vs. city folks
• ““Enemies of the People” (eyeglasses,Enemies of the People” (eyeglasses,
books)books)
• Hoes were used as method of executionHoes were used as method of execution
1975: Khmer Rouge enters capital1975: Khmer Rouge enters capital
6. Pol Pot &Pol Pot &
The Democratic KampucheaThe Democratic Kampuchea
• Pol Pot an assumed namePol Pot an assumed name
• Obscured and UnknownObscured and Unknown
• No statues, no omnipresentNo statues, no omnipresent
photsphots
• Own family was shockedOwn family was shocked
9. Utopia andUtopia and
the New Societythe New Society
• ““Losing you is not a loss; keeping you isLosing you is not a loss; keeping you is
not a gain.”not a gain.”
• Cut the country off from the WorldCut the country off from the World
• Money was abolishedMoney was abolished
• Total collectivizationTotal collectivization
• All Cambodians ordered to wear blackAll Cambodians ordered to wear black
clothesclothes
• Religion, writing, and education allReligion, writing, and education all
disappeareddisappeared
• Only arranged marriages approved byOnly arranged marriages approved by
Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge
10. The Killing Fields:The Killing Fields:
Pits where bodies were thrownPits where bodies were thrown
11. The Killing FieldsThe Killing Fields
• Collapse of agriculture led to famine andCollapse of agriculture led to famine and
cannibalismcannibalism
• Purged itselfPurged itself
• 1997 Pol Pot arrested for treason1997 Pol Pot arrested for treason
• 1998 died in the jungle1998 died in the jungle
• The skeletons of the killing fields todayThe skeletons of the killing fields today