Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Genocide in Cambodia Reflection
We've spent a good portion of class time talking about Cambodia and the genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge. Use your notes to write a reflection on this topic. Your reflection must demonstrate understanding of the geo-political and socio-historical issues that contributed to this horrific event. It might also be helpful to relate this to other topics/events studied this year.
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The genocide in Cambodia from 1975-1979 that was carried out by the Khmer Rouge was a very violent time in Southeast Asia. I have taken a horrific view of the event. People had to serve for their community and countries in labor camps. The labor camps could be compared to Auschwitz in Germany. People were separated and killed if they were any part of the West or even if they were already influenced by the West. The Khmer Rouge became so defendant of the West that they killed anybody that had any relations with it at all. Some people were saved and imported to other countries, but most had to suffer and live every day in danger of Khmer Rouge and wars that occurred. Many people that lived in Cambodia and neighboring countries went through very emotional times of their lives dueto effects from Khmer Rouge and the people that carried out the communist rule.
ReplyDeleteThis genocide was carried out by the Khmer Rouge who were attempting to celar the country of those that were given aid or aided the westerners, specifically those from the United States. The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, attempted to set up their own government, which followed many communist ideologies, such as putting the community before the people. They set up work camps where very large numbers of people were worked to death, and or, executed over the four years that the Khmer Rouge held power in Cambodia. This event can be compared to what happend when China's communist party took over and millions died when they tried to move their country foward, as Pol Pot intended to have a perfect agrarian utopia.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the teachings of the Mao Zedong in China, a totalitarian regime known as the Khmer Rouge overtook Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. They implemented labor camps to ensure an agrarian utopia, everyone must contribute to better the "group" as whole and no independent thinking. Those who did not comply were executed, many being those who aided Westerners prior to the overtake. The Khmer Rouge is extremely similar to the communism ideologies present in other countries that we have studied, China in particular, since the ideals were played out through violence and the elimination of free will and thinking.
ReplyDeleteThe Khmer Rouge communist rule in Cambodia started during the Vietnam War. During this time, the Khmer Rouge used guns leaked in from Vietnam and the chaos caused by Vietnam to slowly take over Cambodia. Other countries took notice and sent in troops to stop the Khmer Rouge from advancing. The main country to do this was the United States of America as they were already in Cambodia for a while trying to keep it from becoming a communist country. Eventually though, in 1975, the United States pulled out of Vietnam, and also thought that it would be beneficial to pull out of Cambodia as well. Once they pulled out, the Cambodian government's main defense line came out, and the Khmer Rouge slowly took over the country. The United States left behind many people that would potential be killed due to their ties with western culture. The Khmer Rouge began to implement communist rule in the country hoping to create an agrian utopia. Pol Pot was the leader, and many people died of starvation because people only received a handful of rice a day. Limiting food supply helped the people to stay reliant on the Khmer Rouge. This take over was based off of Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward which aimed to increase agriculture output but ended in twenty million deaths. The same happened in these "Killing Fields" genocides that lasted four years, from 1975-9, which killed two million.
ReplyDeleteThis video really gave me a better understanding of Cambodian Genocide and the Khmer Rouge, how they ruled, and the different parts of the genocide in Cambodia. When the Khmer Rouge came to Cambodia after fighting in Vietnam, the picture showed them celebrating that the fighting and war was over, but that was a lie. Soldiers on tanks were seen roaming around streets, and bombings were constant. Later in the video, you get a better understanding of the Khmer Rouge labor camps. It showed how they would essentially brainwash the youths into eliminating all their relationships so that they could devote themselves to the party. The Khmer Rouge eliminated those that spoke English or French, got the Cambodians to depend on them physically, and checked workers hands to make sure they were working hard enough. The movie also depicted how the Khmer Rouge implemented Communist ideology by eliminating the idea of God, making people the same, and enforcing their rules through punishments. I received a better understanding of the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian Genocide by watching this video.
ReplyDeleteThe events that happened that relate to the Cambodian Genocide due to the rule of the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1979. Before they took complete control, the United States occupied Cambodia due to the the war in Vietnam. Although, once the war was over the United States evacuated. Anyone related to Westerners were to be killed or put to work to create the agrarian utopia that the leader of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, wanted. To do this, the people were forced to evacuate cities and work in labor camps. These labor camps can be compared to Nazi Concentration Camps because they were forced with their lives to work and received very poor living conditions in return. The rule of the Khmer Rouge uses many aspects of communism. They "kill god," meaning they rid of religion, the people work for their community to supposedly make the country a better place, and almost every person is on the same social level. To conclude, the time of the Khmer Rouge and the "Killing Fields" was extremely horrific.
ReplyDeleteThe Genocide in Cambodia was a terrifying period that was caused by the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1979. The Khmer Rouge would capture men and women and put them into labor camps. Suicide bombers would be put into the public to cause chaos, and people would have to evacuate their home villages or towns because of how much danger occurred there. The Khmer Rouge had also tried evacuating people from towns to pursue their agrarian utopia because in an agrarian utopia towns and cities were not neccessary. The laborers that tried to escape from the labor camps would face harsh punishment like death.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Vietnam war ended, Sydney's reporting group was reporting in Cambodia to talk about side issues that were being caused by the Vietnam War. The U.S. then hit the town that the reporters were staying in, due to bad coordinates.
ReplyDeleteOnce the Vietnam War ended, all the people from the west were to leave Cambodia because the Khmer Rouge was to over power the Cambodian Army. Sydney and the other reporters had to go back to the U.S. by the French Embassy, but Dith Pran couldn't leave because he was Cambodian. He had experienced the Killing fields and how brutal communism really is once he was under the control of the Khmer Rouge. Dith, was able to escape however, and made it all the way to the Red-Cross to be finally reunited with Sydney.
Before the occurrence of the genocide in Cambodia, the French were in power. At the same time, the United States was located there due to the Vietnam War, for the United States did not want surrounding countries to become Communist nations. During this time period, conflicts were beginning to increase between the Cambodian government and the Khmer Rouge. Once the United States withdrew from Vietnam, it also withdrew from Cambodia because they wanted to take all U.S. presence away from the area due to the negative views on the Vietnam War. After they left, the Khmer Rouge began to take over. They evacuated cities in order to form their agrarian utopia. Many of the actions of the Khmer Rouge were inspired by Communist ideas. For example, they forced everyone to wear uniforms and perform similar work for the community. Everyone who was not a soldier or a figure of power were forced to live equally, and the Khmer Rouge ensured that it maintained power by not allowing citizens to grow their own food. They had to work to be given food. Additionally, the Khmer Rouge was influencing children to follow its ideas, for they had not been previously influenced. Anyone who had Western associations, tried to resist the Khmer Rouge, or did not perform their share of work were killed.
ReplyDeleteThe genocide in Cambodia caused many deaths and many refugees. The Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia and had strict rules for the people and if those rules were broken, then the Khmer Rouge would severely punish or kill the people. The Vietnam War spread into Cambodia which is why the United States were helping protect the people of Cambodia. When the United States left Vietnam they also left Cambodia which also meant leaving all the people on their own to survive on their own. When the United States left, it was much easier for the Khmer to take control over more land and do as they pleased. The Khmer Rouge quickly began evacuating cities for agricultural uses and putting the people into labor camps. In the labor camps the people were forced to do work, and if it was not to the standards of the Khmer Rouge they were killed. Also the camps made the people depend on them for basic needs. The camp also "brainwashed" the young, got rid of religion, and made everyone feel the same.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Khmer Rouge regime assumed power in Cambodia, the French had an immense influence. When the French subsided from Cambodia, the United States was occupied, even though only officially in Vietnam, in Southeast Asia. The United States' incentive for their occupation was to prevent these countries from becoming communist. The United States supported the governments of these countries. When the communist Khmer Rouge started to assume power in Cambodia, the United States favored the government of Cambodia, and they assisted in eliminating the communist ideology. The United States put a plethora of money into the efforts against the communist uprisings in Southeast Asia during this time; however, many people lost their lives in the violence. Because of this, the United States pulled out of Southeast Asia to save their funds and to avoid losing any more lives. The United States only took certain people with specific qualifications out of Cambodia. When the United States left, the communist Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Their ideology of the agrarian utopia was detrimental to the people who were not part of the Rouge. This ideology was extremely dangerous because it was a form of legalism. People who failed to follow the strict codes were either executed or severely punished. Furthermore, when the Khmer Rouge ended, due to the Vietnam bombing of Cambodia, a socialist movement transpired, which now has the authority in Thailand.
ReplyDeleteThe Genocide in Cambodia started after the United States “accidentally” bombed cities and left after the Vietnam War ended. The Khmer Rouge eventually forced their way into power and tried to alter and change the government of Cambodia into an agricultural utopia. Many people were evacuated from their homes in the cities and were forced to enter labor or refugee camps. If these people did not comply to the Khmer Rouge’s teachings and labor they would ultimately be executed. At these refugee camps, the rouge killed anyone with Western influence and knowledge. They killed scientists, writers, doctors, and anyone who could speak english or french. The Khmer Rouge treated their laborers poorly by often abusing and beating them, not giving them food, and by killing them for their beliefs. Children were “brainwashed” into believing their teachings and communist ways of life.
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