Kampuchea (People's Republic of Kampuchea). History of Cambodia From Great Empire to French Colony
Today, we present to the attention of our readers notes about Cambodia by Vladislav Goldin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and International Relations of NArFU, author of more than 20 books and a great friend of Pravda North-West.
Vladislav Ivanovich visited Cambodia in January of this year and wrote material about the trip, which will later be included in new book professor. According to the author, “Across Countries and Continents” (tentative title) will continue the regional studies series of books launched in 2009.
Recall that last year Professor Goldin published a great work called “Exotics of our planet. Essays on Regional Studies and International Relations: Observations, Impressions, Reflections”, about which Pravda Severo-Zapad also wrote.
The new book will include blocks: "Australia", "New Zealand", "Asia", "America" and "Europe" - notes about those countries that are not included in the "Exotics of our planet".
So, we bring to your attention the most interesting passages from the essay entitled "Legends and realities of the Khmer country: sacred Angkor":
Cambodia or Kampuchea? This question suddenly arose before the author when he was preparing for a trip to this country of Southeast Asia. The fact is that, being carried away in his student years, from the end of the 60s, by international relations and reading many lectures as an international lecturer, he first used the term "Cambodia", but later the name of the country changed, and more common and official to decade (1979-1989) became the concept of "Kampuchea". It was believed that this translation of the name of the country is closer to the original Khmer version, although both "Kampuchea" and "Kambodia" meant "Khmer country", after the name of the main nationality who lived and lives here today.
At the end of the 20th century, a complex and lengthy process of post-war political settlement took place here, and then this country somehow disappeared from the broad international agenda. Therefore, I had to turn to this issue specifically in order to understand that the country, having changed several names over several decades of independence, returned to its original name at the time of gaining independence - the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In January 2016, while in Vietnam, the author decided to set aside a few days to visit neighboring Cambodia. It's decided - done, and in the evening I'm flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap on a Vietnam Airlines plane. The author will use this variant of the name, based on the rules of transliteration from English (Seam Reap), although there is another one - Siem Reap. Officially, the flight duration is one hour, but after 50 minutes of being in the air, our airbus, having successfully overcome the problems of turbulence, landed at Angkor Airport. This name is far from accidental, because it is this place, located in the province of Siem Reap, that attracts millions of people from all over the world. By the way, this evening I could see for myself the popularity of this tourist destination, because, although three planes flew here from Ho Chi Minh City in three hours, all 184 seats on our plane were filled. I think that the same thing happened on other flights.
So, back to the author's stay in Cambodia. I get up early in the morning, have breakfast and take a new walk around Siem Reap. The streets are lined with small cafes and eateries that offer breakfast for as little as one dollar. True, this is the main dish, and you have to pay extra for tea, coffee, etc. But it's still very cheap. There are many tuk-tuks on the streets, the owners of which vied with each other to invite them to take a trip to Siem Reap or to Angkor. At eight o'clock I approach, as agreed the day before, to the travel agency to go to Angkor. But for half an hour no one is in place, and unkind thoughts begin to creep into my head. But at 8-30 a small bus finally comes up and, having picked up tourists from other hotels, we set off for Angkor. But first, I note that this very trip to Siem Reap changed the initially formed not the best impression of him.
Previously had to read what else in early XIX century Siem Reap was just a village when the French rediscovered Angkor. With its transition under French jurisdiction at the beginning of the twentieth century, it began to grow rapidly, thanks to the start of tourism. The first hotel was opened here in 1929, and then the hotel chain expanded rapidly as tourism to Angkor grew. True, Siem Reap, like other cities in this country, was evicted after the Khmer Rouge came to power. The restoration of its tourist center began at the very end of the 20th century, and today it is the fastest growing city in Cambodia. The population here is about 200 thousand people. This city lives mainly due to tourism and tourists, so the attitude towards them is respectful. Note that Siem Reap is connected by National Road No. 6 with the Thai border and the capital of the country - Phnom Penh, the distance to which is 314 km.
The part of the city in which the author stopped was a mixture of old and new styles. On the one hand, winding, albeit paved roads, and in the neighborhood - already straight highways. Not far from the abundance of small and often not very attractive cafes and eateries, there are already modern shops and hotels. This old part of town is quite dirty. However, I had to read that, despite the international influence, because Angkor is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which requires the appropriate arrangement of its infrastructure, located mainly in Siem Reap, its inhabitants deliberately preserved most of the traditional appearance of the city and its culture. But it is likely that this is also due to the elementary poverty of the Cambodians, who are not able to acquire new comfortable housing and create the appropriate infrastructure, and foreign investment is still not enough for everything.
One way or another, the poverty of many residents of Siem Reap is striking. This can be seen in the appearance, clothing, thinness of most Cambodians, especially children. Although it is obvious that those who work in more "bread" places, in the service sector, in hotels, cafes and restaurants, look completely different, and some are even relatively well-fed. The main types of transportation here are motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and there are not so few cars on the central streets.
As you move around the city, in the direction of Angkor, its appearance changes. More and more modern hotels, mansions, architecture, greenery. Angkor itself is located five kilometers north of Siem Reap. The motorway to Angkor is quite modern and wide. At the entrance to the temple complex, we buy tickets. Their prices vary. One day visit costs, for example, 20 dollars (per person). But it is possible to buy a ticket for two or three days. It is not possible to get acquainted with the entire temple complex in one day, because, for example, the book “Treasures of Angkor”, which the author has read here, contains a description of 25 temples. But the author's time is limited, so you have to make do with a one-day program of acquaintance with Angkor, which in 1992 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. By the way, it is assumed that the very name "Angkor" most likely comes from the word "nagara", which in Sanskrit means "city".
Angkor Wat was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150) and was intended to demonstrate the power and greatness of the Angkor Empire of that time. Note that among experts there are still disputes about whether this is a temple or a tomb. According to the guide, three million tons of stone were used for this main temple of Angkor. The scale of the work performed is, of course, fantastic. According to some existing modern estimates, the construction of such a temple, even in our time, would take more than one hundred years, and it was started shortly after Suryavarman II came to the throne and was fully completed shortly after his death, that is, no more than 40 years. There is a claim that the lifting force of elephants was used in the construction. At least, monuments to them can be seen here. In general, the technology of building a temple, in particular, masonry, fitting, fastening stones, and so on, is amazing even today.
Having entered the territory of Angkor Wat, we approach a photo exhibition with text in several languages, demonstrating the restoration work that has been and is being carried out here. The guide explains that they were held with the financial support of the Japanese government. Japanese specialists not only conducted surveys and restoration work themselves, but also taught Cambodians this.
We pass through the gate in the wall and go further through the territory of the complex itself, its large outer courtyard, listening to the guide's explanations. Previously, not only the temple was located inside the walls, but also the royal palace and city buildings. The guide points to the preserved buildings, among which, in particular, the library, because the temple was also a place where education was carried out. Moreover, initially a wooden school was located on the same place, and then a stone building was already built. By the way, already inside the temple itself, the guide will point to the premises of another library located here.
We come directly to the temple, the total height of which is 65 meters, more precisely, the height of the central tower, which is higher than the others, is 42 meters, and it rises 65 meters above the ground. Angkor Wat symbolizes the mythical Mount Meru, which, according to Hindu mythology, is the center of the whole world, and belongs to the "temple-mountain" type, characteristic of the religious buildings of Cambodia. The temple is now covered by dilapidated towers. On three levels / tiers of the temple there are sculptures and bas-reliefs on the themes of Hindu mythology, the essence of which the guide is trying hard to convey to us. Only on the first level there are 1200 square meters of sandstone carvings, thousands of images and bas-reliefs, and this is certainly impressive. The walls of the second tier are decorated with about 1200 celestial maidens - apsara dancers.
But back to the author's stay in Angkor. After getting to know Angkor Wat, stopping by for a short bite to eat and sit in the shade of trees, we head to Bandai Kdei - a temple built at the end of XII - early XIII centuries. It was built under King Jayavarman VII as a Hindu temple. According to the guide, it was built on the site and foundation of an older temple. Today it is a dilapidated complex, inside which huge trees have grown, the age of one of them, the guide says, is three hundred years. We spend here, getting acquainted with the temple and observing the confrontation between human architectural creations and nature, for more than half an hour and head to the restaurant for lunch.
The two-story restaurant we arrived at offers a set of first and second courses, costing between six and nine dollars each. I order rice with meat and a bottle of local beer. The service is slow, but thanks to this there is an opportunity to relax, because it is stuffy and hot outside. The temperature is probably over 40 degrees, and this despite the fact that the sun is in a haze, or even hiding behind the clouds. According to the guide, now, by Cambodian standards, it is not hot, and the hottest month is April.
At the end of the meal, we receive a "compliment" from the chef in the form of a plate with chopped apples, a banana and a dragon's heart or pitahaya (pitahaya). The latter is the common name for several types of cactus called "dragon fruit" or "dragon heart".
According to ancient legend, it is the pitaya that people owe the widespread destruction of fire-breathing dragons. When brave warriors exhausted their scaly rivals, these fabulous relatives of ordinary lizards lost the ability to set fire to everything around. Instead of tongues of flame from the frightening mouth of a ferocious dragon, his heart flew out - the dragon fruit pitahaya. People loved the juicy pulp of pitaya so much that all the dragons were exterminated for the opportunity to feast on their sweet hearts. This exotic fruit is also called the "Queen of the Night" and "Queen of Taste". But the most romantic name is still "heart of the dragon." It is believed that the place of origin of this exotic plant is the American continent, but today there are commercial plantations of pitahaya in the south of Vietnam...
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and International Relations of NArFU Vladislav Goldin especially for Pravda of the North-West
Photo essay by Ilya Azovsky "Cambodia - the most sincere country in Asia" see.
Due to insufficient knowledge of ancient times, it is not known exactly when people settled in the territory of modern Cambodia. Coal found in a cave in the northwest of the country suggests that people who used stone tools lived in this cave already around 4000 BC, and rice was grown long before the 1st century AD. But the first Cambodians came to this territory long before these dates. They probably migrated from the north. However, nothing is known about their language and daily life.
At the beginning of the first century A.D. Chinese traders reported the existence of various states in Cambodia, which were located both inland and on the coast. These states adopted a lot from Indian culture - the alphabet, art, architecture, religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), as well as the stratified structure of society. Local beliefs in ancestral spirits, common to this day, coexisted with Indian religions.
The modern culture of Cambodia was formed in the period from the 1st to the 6th centuries in the state of Funan, the oldest Indianized state in Southeast Asia. It was during this period that the language of Cambodia was formed, which is part of the Mon-Khmer family of languages and includes elements of Sanskrit, Judaism and Buddhism. For example, as historians note, Cambodians can be distinguished from neighboring peoples by their clothes - instead of straw hats, they wore checkered scarves (krams).
When Jayavarman II came to power in 802, Funan was conquered by the Angkor Empire. Over the next 600 years, powerful Khmer kings dominated much of what is now Southeast Asia, from the eastern borders of Myanmar to the South China Sea and from the northern borders to Laos. Under the Khmer rulers was erected angkor temple complex- the largest concentration of religious temples in the world. The most powerful kings of Angkor - Jayavarman II, Indravarman I, Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII - encouraged the construction of another masterpiece of ancient construction - a complex irrigation system that includes barais (huge artificial reservoirs) and canals, thanks to which the rice harvest was collected as many as three times a year. year. Part of this system is still in use today.
Khmer Kingdom (Funan)
The first Chinese chroniclers mentioned a state in Cambodia, which they called Funan. Modern archaeological excavations testify to the society that lived in the Mekong Delta, which in its development reached the stage of trade. Its heyday fell on the period from the 1st to the 6th centuries. Archaeologists have excavated port city dating back to the 1st century. The city was located in the Ok-Eo region in what is now southern Vietnam. Entering a complex network of canals, the city served as an important link between India and China. Ongoing excavations in southern Cambodia have revealed the existence of another significant city near the modern village of Angkor Borey.
Known to the Chinese as Chenla, a group of inland states stretching from southern Cambodia to southern Laos reached their peak in the 6th and 7th centuries. The first stone inscriptions in the Khmer language and the first stone-brick Indian temples in Cambodia date back to this period.
Angkor era
Bayon temple on a cool evening
close to Angkor Wat
At the beginning of the 9th century, a Khmer (Cambodian) prince returned to Cambodia. He probably came from the nearby islands of Java or Sumatra, where he could have been held captive by local kings who had captured some of the continental regions of Southeast Asia.
After holding solemn ceremonies in different regions of the country, the prince proclaimed himself the ruler of the new independent state, which united several local principalities. The center of this state was located near modern Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. The prince, known as Jayavarman II, introduced the cult of the Indian god Shiva, who was considered devaraja (translated from Sanskrit - "god-king"). The cult, according to which the king was personified with Shiva, was preserved at the royal court of Cambodia for more than two centuries.
Between the beginning of the 9th and the beginning of the 15th centuries, the Khmer kingdom (known as Angkor, after the current name of the kingdom's capital) had 26 monarchs. Under Jayavarman II's successor, the great temples for which Angkor is famous were built. Historians refer to this era more than a thousand places where temples were erected, and more than a thousand inscriptions on stones.
King Jayavarman VII who built the Bayon Temple
Among the Khmer kings who encouraged construction, Suryavarman II stands out, during whose reign in the middle of the XII century angkor wat temple, and Jayavarman VII, thanks to whom the Bainon Temple in the city of Ankor Thom was built, and half a century later, several other temples. In addition to temples, Jayavarman VII, an ardent Buddhist, also built hospitals and rest houses along the roads that networked the kingdom. However, most monarchs were more interested in demonstrating and strengthening their power than in the welfare of their subjects.
Ancient city of Angkor
This map shows a diagram of the ancient city of Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The huge stone temples of the city were both the centers of secular life and the religious symbols of the philosophy of Hinduism. According to historians, a network of canals and barays (reservoirs) were used for irrigation.
At its height in the 12th century, the Khmer Empire included parts of what is now Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and the Malay Peninsula. In Thailand and Laos, ruins and inscriptions from that time have survived to this day. The kings of Angkor collected tribute from small kingdoms in the north, east and west, and also traded with China. The kingdom's capital was at the center of an extensive network of reservoirs and canals, which historians believe were used for irrigation. Many historians believe that the irrigation system, providing rich harvests, helped maintain a large population, and the rulers needed people in order to build temples and fight in wars. Majestic temples, an extensive network of roads and irrigation canals, expressive inscriptions - all this created the illusion of stability, which, however, was contradicted by the fact that many Khmer kings ascended the throne by overthrowing their predecessors. The inscriptions indicate that the kingdom was often shaken by rebellions and foreign invasions.
Historians still cannot identify the reasons for the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries. The development of powerful Thai kingdoms that paid tribute to Angkor in the past, as well as population losses in wars against these kingdoms, could lead to this. Another reason could be the spread of Theravada, the Buddhist doctrine, according to which every person can achieve nirvana through a proper lifestyle and meditation. The egalitarian ideas of this school undermined hierarchical structure Cambodian society and the power of the great Indian dynasties. After the invasion of the Thais in 1431, the remnants of the nobility of Cambodia moved to the southeast, closer to the city of Phnom Penh.
Emperors of the Khmer Empire from 770 to 1336| Jayavarman II | 770 - 850 |
| Jayavarman III | 839/850 - 860 |
| Rudravarman | 860 - 877 |
| Indravarman I | 877 - 889 |
| Yasovarman I | 889 - 910 |
| Harshavarman I | 910 - 923 |
| Ishanavarman II | 923 - 928 |
| Jayavarman IV | 921 - 941 |
| Harshavarman II | 941 - 944 |
| Rajendravarman II | 944 - 967 |
| Jayavarman V | 968 - 1001 |
| Udayadityavarman I | 1001 - 1002 |
| Jayaviravarman | 1002 - 1006/11-12 |
| Suryavarman I | 1001 - 1050 |
| Udayadityavarman II | 1049 - 1066/7 |
| Harshavarman III | 1066 - 1080 |
| Jayavarman VI | 1080 - 1107 |
| Dharanindravarman I | 1107 - 1112/13 |
| Suryavarman II | 1113 - 1150 |
| Dharanindravarman II | 1150 - 1160 |
| Yashovarman II | 1160 - 1166 |
| Tribhuvanadityavarman | 1166 - 1177 |
| Jayavarman VII | 1181 - 1218 |
| Indravarman II | 1218 - 1243 |
| Jayavarman VIII | 1243 - 1295 |
| Indravarman III | 1295 - 1308 |
| Indrajayavarman | 1308 - 1327 |
Troubled times
In the 16th century, the kingdoms of Southeast Asia were constantly at war with each other. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya (modern Thailand) expanded its borders to the north and east, conquering most of the states of Lanna and Lan Xang (modern Laos). Dai Viet (modern-day Thailand) expanded to the south, capturing the remaining territory of the Champa kingdom and the southern outskirts of the Kingdom of Lovek (now Cambodia). Taungoo became the territory of modern Myanmar.
There is little information left about the four centuries of desolation of Angkor, so almost nothing is known to historians about this period, with the exception of only a general idea. Despite the frequent invasions of the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya and the invasion of the Vietnamese troops, Cambodia managed to preserve its language and cultural heritage. During this period, Cambodia remained a fairly prosperous kingdom with developed trade. The capital of the state was in the city of Lovek, located near the modern capital Phnom Penh. Europeans wrote about the piety of the Buddhist population of the Kingdom of Lovek. During that period, the most significant literary work of Cambodia was created - "Rimker", based on the plot of the Indian myth of the Ramayana.
At the end of the 18th century, the Vietnamese civil war and the turmoil caused by the Burmese invasion from Ayutthaya spread to Cambodia, devastating the region. At the beginning of the 19th century, the newly established dynasties in Vietnam and Thailand vied for control of Cambodia. The ensuing military clashes, which began in the 30s of the XIX century, practically devastated Cambodia.
French rule
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, as the French planned, began to resemble a provincial French town. By the second half of the 19th century, France began a colonial invasion of the Indochina peninsula, located between India and China. In 1863, France accepted the request of the King of Cambodia to establish a protectorate over his extremely weakened kingdom, thus ending the partition of the country between Thailand and Vietnam. For the next 90 years, Cambodia was under the control of France. Theoretically, the management of Cambodia should have been reduced to indirect control, but in fact, the French authorities always had the final say in resolving all important issues, including the election of Cambodian kings. Leaving the country's organizations and institutions unchanged (including the monarchical form of government), France gradually developed the state apparatus in Cambodia according to the French model. Without paying attention to education, the French built roads, port facilities and other public facilities. Phnom Penh, as the French planned, began to resemble a provincial French town.
The economy of Cambodia received much more French investment than the economy of Vietnam, which was also under French control. The French invested in rubber plantations in eastern Cambodia and also facilitated the export of large quantities of rice. Has been restored temple complex at angkor and deciphered Angkorian inscriptions, shedding light on the medieval heritage and awakening in Cambodians pride in their country's past. Since the French left the monarchical system of government and Buddhism intact, and also did not interfere in the rural life of the country, anti-French sentiment developed slowly.
In 1953, thanks to masterfully executed political moves, King Sihanouk succeeded in restoring the independence of Cambodia. During the Second World War (1939 - 1945), Japanese troops invaded Indochina, but did not overthrow the compromise-minded French authorities.
In 1945, with war defeat imminent, Japan ended French rule in Cambodia and established a formally independent government under the newly ascended King Norodom Sihanouk. In early 1946, France re-established a protectorate over Cambodia, but left the country the right to independently draw up a constitution and form political parties.
Indochina War (1946-1954)
Shortly thereafter, riots engulfed the entire Indochina peninsula. Nationalist groups (some of them adhered to communist views) fought for the independence of Cambodia from France. The largest battles took place during the First Indochina War (1946-1954) in Vietnam. In Cambodia, communist guerrillas, allied with the Vietnamese communists, took control of much of the country. However, thanks to masterfully executed political moves, King Sihanouk managed to restore the independence of Cambodia in 1953 (a few months earlier than in Vietnam). Under the Geneva Agreement of 1954, which marked the end of the First Indochina War, the Sihanouk government was recognized as the sole legitimate authority in Cambodia.
Current position
Sihanouk's independence campaign enriched his political experience and increased his ambitions. In 1955, he abdicated in favor of his father, in order to devote himself entirely to a political career without constitutional restrictions on monarchical power. In order to block the path of the newly formed political parties, Sihanouk founded the national political movement "People's Socialist Union" (Sangkum Reeastr Niyum), whose members were forbidden to join political parties. Sihanouk's popularity and police brutality at the polls ensured that the "People's Socialist Union" won the national elections in 1955. Sihanouk served as Prime Minister of Cambodia until 1960, when, after the death of his father, he was proclaimed head of state. Sihanouk enjoyed wide support among the population, but was merciless towards his opponents.
At the end of the 1950s, the influence of the Cold War became more clearly felt in Asia - a period of tense relations between the United States and its allies, on the one hand, and the USSR and its allies, on the other. Under such conditions, foreign states, including the United States, the USSR and China, tried to woo Sihanouk. For these states, the importance of Cambodia was explained by the growing tension in neighboring Vietnam, in the north of which the communist regime dominated, and in the south - Western countries. The USSR supported the Vietnamese communists, the United States opposed them, and China sought to gain control of Vietnam, guided by security issues. Each of the states hoped that the support of Cambodia would strengthen its position in the South-Eastern region. However, Sihanouk remained neutral, which provided Cambodia with significant economic assistance from rival countries.
King Sihanouk
In 1965, Sihanouk severed diplomatic relations with the United States. At the same time, he allowed the communists in northern Vietnam, who participated in the Vietnam War against the United States and southern Vietnam, to establish their bases in Cambodia. As the military conflict in Vietnam escalated, pressure from radical and conservative groups increased on Sihanouk. The Cambodian communist organization known as the Workers' Party of Kampuchea (later renamed the Communist Party of Kampuchea), which had gone underground after failing to secure concessions under the Geneva Accords, was now starting to mount resistance again. The instability in the Cambodian economy increased, and it became difficult for Sihanouk to govern the country alone. Needing economic and military assistance, Sihanouk resumed diplomatic relations with the United States. Shortly thereafter, in 1969, US President Richard Nixon authorized the bombing of Cambodia to destroy the Vietnamese communist hideouts there. Former King Sihanouk passed away in 2012.
Khmer Republic
Khmer Rouge
In March 1970, the National Assembly, which has legislative power in Cambodia, overthrew Sihanouk while he was abroad. Pro-Western and anti-Vietnamese forces were behind the coup d'état. Cambodia's prime minister, General Lon Nol, who came to power, sent a poorly armed army to repulse the Vietnamese communist forces located near the border. Lon Nol hoped that with the help of the United States he would defeat the enemy, but at that time all the forces of the Americans were thrown into military operations in Vietnam. In April, American and South Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia in search of North Vietnamese forces that were retreating inland. Over the next year, North Vietnamese troops defeated the advance of General Lon Nol's army.
In October 1970, Lon Nol proclaimed the Khmer Republic. Hiding in China, Sihanouk, despite his absence, was sentenced to death. By then, the leaders of China and Vietnam had persuaded the prince to form a government-in-exile with North Vietnamese support. The parliamentary majority was represented by the Communist Party of Kampuchea, which Sihanouk called the Khmer Rouge (translated from French as "Khmer Rouge").
In 1975, despite significant US aid, the Khmer Republic fell and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh.
The US continued bombing Cambodia until the US Congress stopped the military campaign in 1973. By that time, Lon Nol's army was fighting not only against the Vietnamese, but also against the Khmer Rouge. The general lost control of much of the country's countryside, which was destroyed by American bombing raids. Military clashes caused enormous damage to the country's infrastructure and claimed many lives. Hundreds of thousands of refugees poured into the cities. In 1975, despite significant US aid, the Khmer Republic fell and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh. Three weeks later, North Vietnamese forces were victorious over southern Vietnam.
Democratic Kampuchea
Pol Pot is the pseudonym of Cambodian guerrilla commander Saloth Sara, who organized the Khmer Rouge Communist Party. After overthrowing General Lon Nol in 1975, the Khmer Rouge established a brutal communist regime that dominated the country until 1979.
Having occupied the cities, the Khmer Rouge sent all urban residents to the countryside to perform agricultural work. This measure testified to the contemptuous attitude of the Khmer Rouge towards the urban population, and also reflected their utopian idea to turn Cambodia into a country of hardworking peasants. At the head of the regime was Saloth Sar, who used the pseudonym "Pol Pot". Controlling the regime in secret, Pol Pot did not appear in public. The government, which called itself "Democratic Kampuchea", declared its desire for independence from foreign states, but accepted economic and military assistance from its main allies - China and North Korea.
The atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. During the second half of the 70s, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, exterminated about 1.7 million people. This photo shows human bones and skulls in the Cambodia Museum, which served as a prison and torture site during the reign of Pol Pot.
Without identifying themselves as communists, the Khmer Rouge promptly put into effect a number of long-term and often difficult to implement socialist programs. The most influential members of the new parliament were mostly illiterate villagers who had fought in the civil war for the Khmer Rouge. "Democratic Kampuchea" radically restricted freedom of speech, movement and assembly, and banned all religious practices and traditions. The authorities controlled all channels of communication, access to food and information. The attitude towards the former city dwellers, who were now called "new people", was especially dismissive. The Khmer Rouge exterminated intellectuals, merchants, officials, members of religious groups and anyone who was suspected of disagreeing with the party's course. Millions of Cambodians were forcibly displaced, deprived of food, tortured and forced to work.
Nearly 1.7 million Cambodians were
destroyed by Khmer Rouge
(a quarter of the country's population)
During the entire time the Khmer Rouge was in power, almost 1.7 million Cambodians were destroyed, died from hard work or hunger.
In an effort to regain territories lost to Cambodia many centuries ago, the Khmer Rouge organized attacks on neighboring countries. After a military conflict broke out in Vietnam (at that time united under communist rule), the ideology of "Democratic Kampuchea" became openly racist. Ethnic minorities living in Cambodia, including the Chinese and Vietnamese, were persecuted, expelled from the country or massacred. In order to get rid of state traitors, purges began to be carried out in the ruling party. Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Cambodia were killed, suspected of complicity with Vietnam. During the entire time the Khmer Rouge was in power, almost 1.7 million Cambodians (more than a fifth of the country's population) were destroyed, died from hard work or hunger.
Modern development
ASEAN countries
In October 1991, Cambodia's warring political factions, the UN and a number of interested foreign states signed an agreement in Paris aimed at ending the conflict in Cambodia. The agreement provided for a temporary division of power between the UN Interim Authority in Cambodia and the Supreme National Council, which included representatives of various political groups in Cambodia. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, former King and Prime Minister of Cambodia, chaired the Supreme National Council.
The Paris Agreement and the UN protectorate brought Cambodia out of a state of isolation and contributed to the formation of a multi-party system, which the country had forgotten since the early 50s. The UN interim body in Cambodia sponsored elections for the national assembly in May 1993, and for the first time in the country's history, the power regime did not win the support of a majority of voters. The royalist party, known by its French acronym FUNCINPEC, won the majority of seats in parliament. The People's Party of Cambodia, led by Hun Sen, came second. Unwilling to give up power, Hun Sen threatened to disrupt the elections. As a result of the compromise agreement, a three-party parliament was formed, led by two prime ministers. Prince Norodom Ranaridd, one of Sihanouk's sons, became FUNCINPEC minister, and Hun Sen took over as second minister.
By ratifying a new constitution in September 1993, Parliament restored the monarchy and proclaimed the Kingdom of Cambodia. Sihanouk became the king of the country for the second time. Since the 1993 elections, no foreign country has recognized Democratic Kampuchea as the legitimate government of Cambodia. Democratic Kampuchea lost its membership in the UN, and also lost almost all sources of foreign aid.
The seemingly impossible division of power between Ranaridd and Hun Sen functioned surprisingly well over the next three years, but relations between the parties were not smooth. Control over the army and police effectively provided the Cambodian People's Party with power in the country and a dominant role in the coalition parliament. In July 1997, Hun Sen staged a political coup, deposing Prince Ranarrida (who was away at the time) and appointing Ung Huot, a more compliant member of FUNCINPEC, in his place. Hun Sen's actions shocked foreign countries and delayed the admission of Cambodia to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the end of 1997, Cambodia was the only non-ASEAN country in the region.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Hun Sen
Despite the coup d'état, the July 1998 elections went ahead as planned. Hundreds of foreign observers confirmed that the vote was relatively free and fair. However, before and after the elections, the Cambodian People's Party organized attacks on opposition candidates and party members. Dozens of people were arrested and several people were killed. The People's Party of Cambodia won the most votes. But the voting results, especially in cities where local authorities could not control the electoral process, showed that the party did not enjoy mass support from the people. Prince Ranaridd and another opposition candidate, Sam Rainsy, fled abroad and protested the election results. In November, the Cambodian People's Party and FUNCINPEC reached an agreement under which Hun Sen became the country's sole prime minister and Ranaridd served as president of the National Assembly. The parties formed a coalition government, dividing control over various ministries among themselves. In early 1999, in order to form the Senate, the creation of which was required by the 1998 agreement, the country's constitution was amended. Shortly thereafter, signs of stabilization of the political situation in Cambodia contributed to Cambodia's admission to ASEAN.
In 1998, Pol Pot died, and by the beginning of the next year, the remaining Khmer Rouge troops and leaders announced their surrender. The rebel troops were attached to the Cambodian army. In 1999, two Khmer Rouge leaders were arrested. They were charged with genocide for the atrocities they committed.
Since the conclusion of the Paris Agreement in 1991, Cambodia's economic growth has depended on millions of dollars in foreign aid. However, interest in Cambodia from foreign countries has weakened, which has led to a decrease in economic support. This trend, along with the lack of openness of the country's political life, makes Cambodia's weak chances to enter the path of democratic development, as well as sustainable economic growth.
On the world map MapJanuary 5-10, 2010
The ancient Khmer civilization left Cambodia with memories of incredible beauty. You drive through some shabby poor village, and the fence near the pond has been standing since the 12th century.
The ancient Khmer civilization has left behind incredibly beautiful reminders of itself in Cambodia. There you are, driving through some dirt-poor village in the middle of nowhere, but the railing along the pond has been there since the 12th century.
I was sure that I had already seen all the main sights of the disappeared civilizations. But I haven't seen Angkor yet. To say about this temple city that it strikes the imagination is like saying nothing.
I was certain that I'd already seen all the major monuments of long-lost civilizations. But I hadn't seen Angkor yet. To say that this temple city boggles the imagination doesn't even begin to do it justice.
If you send a graphomaniac photographer here, then he will not come out with less than a 1000-page book.
If you send in an obsessive-compulsive photographer, he won't be able to come out with less than 1000 images.
Even I can hardly resist the temptation to show everything, as the reader has already noticed.
Even I am having great difficulty resisting the urge to show absolutely everything, as the reader may have noticed.
The French left a legacy of kilometer-long concrete markers (as in Tunisia, Vietnam and Laos).
The French have left behind a legacy of concrete kilometer markers (like in Tunisia , Vietnam and Laos).
It is curious that one of the types of local urns resembles this road marker in shape.
Curiously, the shape of one of the local types of trash cans resembles these marker posts.
No less curious is the method of getting garbage out of the bin for loading it into a garbage bike: the janitor takes everything out with chopsticks. The same as for food, only half a meter long.
No less curious is the technique used to get the trash out of the can and into the trash bicycle: the street cleaner uses two sticks to fish it out. Just like chopsticks, only these are half a meter long.
The French also left croissants and traffic lights with a red cross, which means that red is on at the crossroads (the same system has remained, except for France, also in Vietnam). Why not just put another regular traffic light on the other side of the intersection is a mystery.
The French also left the Cambodians croissants and street lights with a red cross, which indicate that there’s currently a red light at the intersection (this system, in addition to France , also remains in Vietnam). It's a mystery why they don't just install another normal traffic light on the other side of the intersection.
The Khmer Rouge, led by the terrible tyrant Pol Pot, left a completely destroyed country as a legacy in the late 1970s. At the most superficial acquaintance with the methods of operation of this mode, the hair stands on end. You don't have to laugh.
The Khmer Rouge, led by the evil tyrant Pol Pot, left behind a completely destroyed country at the end of the 1970s. Even the most cursory knowledge of the methods this regime employed will make your hair stand on end. Nothing to laugh at.
Pol Pot studied at the Sorbonne, but he was expelled for poor performance. Then he returned to his native Kampuchea (the self-name of Cambodia), came to power and avenged everything. City dwellers were evacuated to the villages to grow rice. Any person who had signs of education (for example, wore glasses) was sent for re-education. Either complete collective farmers remained alive, or those who mowed down under them in time. Teachers, doctors, builders - all were repressed. The country returned to the Stone Age in four years.
Pol Pot studied at the Sorbonne but was expelled for poor academic performance. He then returned to his native Kampuchea (as the Cambodians call their country), came to power and avenged all his failures. City residents were evacuated to the villages to grow rice. Every person showing any sign of being educated (for example, wearing glasses) was sent off to be rehabilitated. The only ones who survived were either total hicks or those who learned to pass themselves off as ones quickly enough. Teachers, doctors, construction workers—all of them were repressed. In just four years, the country regressed back to the stone age.
It is surprising that today Cambodian schools do not teach this, although some thirty years ago, almost half the population was killed and tortured. However, nothing surprising. Some of the Khmer Rouge are still in government (now this is already amazing).
It’s surprising that none of this is taught in Cambodian schools today, when a mere thirty years ago almost half of the country’s population was tortured and killed. On second thought, it's not surprising at all. Some former Khmer Rouge members remain in government to this day (now that’s truly surprising).
Americans inherited yellow rhombuses of road signs. The rest of the signs are European.
The diamond-shaped yellow traffic signs were inherited from the Americans. The other half of the signs are European.
The word "Russian" in Cambodian will be "Soviet". The Soviets left as a legacy points for the sale of Beeline SIM cards on every corner.
The word “Russian” in Cambodian is the same as “Soviet.” The legacy left by the Soviets: shops selling Beeline SIM cards on every corner.
And Cambodians live extremely poorly, almost like in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, most Cambodians live in extreme poverty, almost like in Bangladesh .
If even in tourist cities, residents do not hesitate to fish right in the center, then what can we say about other places.
Even in places with lots of tourism, the locals aren’t shy about fishing right in the middle of the city, so you can imagine what goes on everywhere else.
Fish are caught in any conditions and everywhere.
People fish everywhere and in any conditions.
Village life:
Life in the village:
Life next to the sweet potato field:
Life by the yam fields:
Life in the center of the capital:
Life in the center of the capital:
In houses, as a rule, there are no rooms. There is one large space divided by curtains. The whole family lives together.
Houses generally don't have any rooms. They consist of one big space divided up with curtains. The whole family lives together.
Cambodian transport is unlike any other.
Cambodian transportation is unlike any other.
Almost always the motor is far out of the cart, as if it were not a motor, but a buffalo.
The motor is almost always placed far away from the cart, as if it were an ox and not a motor.
This also applies to water transport.
This applies to water transport as well.
And motorcycle taxis are arranged according to the same principle.
Motor taxis follow the same principle.
The stroller is put on a pin, which uncomfortably digs into the taxi driver's back.
The carriage is attached to a tow hitch which painfully digs into the taxi driver's back.
There are no mailboxes on the streets. A letter can only be sent from the post office, where the boxes act as lions at the entrance.
There are no street post boxes here. You can mail a letter only from a post office, where the boxes perform the role of lions at the gate.
Cambodia is the second country in the world after Ukraine, where postcards are stamped by a postal worker.
Cambodia is the second country in the world (after Ukraine) where the postal worker will stick the stamp onto your postcard itself.
Payphone.
Every self-respecting electric pole is equipped with a bunch of wires and meters.
Every self-respecting utility pole is decked out with a whole bunch of wires and meters.
The sidewalks are high, so they are equipped with integrated ramps for easy entry of cars.
The sidewalks are tall, so they're equipped with built-in ramps for cars to drive up easily.
As in Laos, there are special cult structures on every corner where you can stick an incense stick.
Like in Laos, every street corner has special shrines with incense holders.
And on every corner they sell counterfeit Vietnamese gasoline in two-liter bottles of cola. Easy to refuel mopeds.
Every street corner also has counterfeit Vietnamese gasoline for sale in 2 liter Coke bottles. Very convenient if you need to fuel up a moped.
Nif-nif, Nuf-nuf and Naf-naf on a moped.
The Three Little Pigs on a moped.
Transportation of geese.
Transporting Geese.
The flag is always attached diagonally. There is a special Cambodian design for this.
Flags are always hung diagonally. There's a special Cambodian flagpole design for this.
At each kiosk there is a foam or plastic orange refrigerator, where soft drinks from cola to cactus juice float in ice.
Every kiosk has a styrofoam or plastic orange cooler full of half-melted ice and soft drinks, ranging from cola to cactus juice.
Technical inspections.
motor vehicle inspection stickers.
Digger with a teaspoon.
A digger with a little teaspoon.
Sneeze wisely.
Learn to sneeze the proper way.
A brilliant drunk driving PSA.
The woman on the sign says to her husband: "Stop domestic beatings!"
The woman on the sign is telling her husband, “Stop with the domestic violence!”
Tourists experience an attraction with fish massaging their feet.
Tourists trying out a local form of entertainment: a fish foot massage.
The rainwater drains are very original. Small holes are drilled in the asphalt or a small gap is made in the curb - water is invited to flow there. The cover of the service well is a concrete slab with metal handles for opening.
The storm drains are quite original. They consist of small holes drilled through the asphalt or a small slot in the curb through which the water is supposed to flow down. The maintenance access hatch is a concrete slab with metal handles for lifting it open.
An expensive car must be complemented by a large brand logo repeated along the board.
An expensive car has to have the manufacturer's logo blown up across the entire side.
The most unscrupulous show-offs hang a fully extended number on the car. The rest drive with a more compact number in two lines.
The most unabashed show-offs install elongated license plates with everything on one line. Everyone else drives around with more compact plates consisting of two lines.
Pedestrians at traffic lights are extremely difficult.
The little men on pedestrian traffic signals are extremely complex.
This is to make the animation look better.
Why? To make the animation look better.
However, most Cambodians will never see this animation.
Most Cambodians, however, will never see this animation.
But here the cicadas sing around the clock.
But on the plus side, you can hear cicadas around the clock here.
