Under the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979 in Cambodia: 1) Pol Pot sought to create a racially pure utopian society and purge enemies of the state, killing an estimated 1/4 of the population through executions and forcing children as young as 12 into becoming killers. 2) Cities were emptied within a week as the population was exiled to work as peasant farmers, and those seen as "enemies" like people who wore glasses or owned books were often executed with farm tools. 3) The Khmer Rouge isolated Cambodia from the outside world, abolished money, private property and religion, and enforced total government control over daily life through collectivization and forced marriages. 4)

1. Cambodia andCambodia and
Pol Pot’sPol Pot’s
Killing FieldsKilling Fields

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

5. 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

7. Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler,Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler,
MaoMao

8. The Year ZeroThe Year Zero

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