Facing the Khmer Rouge: A Cambodian Journey

Chronology

xxiii CHRONOLOGY Cambodia 1941 Prince Norodom Sihanouk is enthroned by Cambodia’s French rulers. 1953 Prince Sihanouk succeeds in obtaining the country’s independence from France. 1958 Sihanouk, who earlier abdicated his royal title to become politically active, forms a political party called Sangkum Reastr Niyum and wins office by a landslide. Sihanouk coins the term “Khmer Rouge” for the fringe Cambodian communist group, which takes to the forest for protection from state government persecution. 1963 In an effort to maintain neutrality as the war in Vietnam escalates, Sihanouk rejects American aid and severs ties with South Vietnam. 1965–70 Vietnamese communists set up sanctuaries inside Cambodia’s borders. 1969 Sihanouk resumes diplomatic relations with the United States. America begins secret bombing of Vietnamese communist sanctuaries inside Cambodia. 1970 With CIA’s backing, Lon Nol overthrows Sihanouk and establishes the Khmer Republic. Sihanouk issues appeals to Cambodians to join the Khmer Rouge and defeat Lon Nol. The rag-tag Khmer Rouge forces increase substantially and soon occupy half of Cambodia. 1975 The Khmer Rouge captures the capital city of Phnom Penh and all other populated areas of the country. They abolish money and prohibit religion and education. The cities’ populations were soon forced to relocate to the hinterlands. 1977 The Khmer Rouge begins internal purges across the country. 1979 The Vietnamese army takes over Cambodia. Khmer Rouge defectors are in power; Hun Sen is appointed as foreign minister. The name of the country is changed to the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. The Khmer Rouge continues its efforts to retake villages and towns; guerrilla fighting continues for ten years. By the end of the Khmer Rouge regime, 1.7 million have perished. 1989 The Cambodian government (headed by Hun Sen as prime minister) renounces communism. The last Vietnamese troops withdraw. The Khmer Rouge cadres continue to fight for power. 1991 The Paris Peace Agreements end the fighting among the state, Khmer Rouge, and other forces. The United Nations Transitional Authority of Cambodia (UNTAC) is established. 1993 Cambodia holds its first elections since the 1970s; Sihanouk’s son Ranariddh wins the prime minister position but Hun Sen rejects the results. Under threat of renewed civil war, Ranariddh agrees to share power. The world’s first co–prime ministers are created in Cambodia. 1997 Hun Sen’s forces wrestle complete power from Ranariddh, killing many in opponents in the process. 1998 Discussing his role in leading the Khmer Rouge, known as one of humankind’s most notorious regimes that killed millions, Pol Pot says, from his deathbed, “My conscience is clear.” Pol Pot dies; his body is cremated without an autopsy. 2003–present Hun Sen and his Cambodian People’s Party rule Cambodia with impunity and with very little opposition. Ranachith (“Ronnie”) Yimsut 1961 Ranachith is born on an unknown date in the Year of the Ox, at the family’s home by the Siem Reap River. He is his parents’ sixth child. 1966 Ranachith begins kindergarten at Wat Damnak in Siem Reap. 1969 The family moves into their new home a few miles away, closer to Angkor Wat and to the forest. Ranachith attends classes at Sala Komrou in Siem Reap. 1970 The school principal is in trouble with the new regime of Lon Nol’s Khmer Republic. Vietcong soldiers ask Ranachith’s family and others to leave town. Eldest brother Larony is part of Lon Nol’s special forces; Ranachith’s father and two other brothers are conscripted by the town militia. Ranachith begins to experience life as a refugee, outside Siem Reap and even in his own neighborhood. 1971 A twelve-year-old school friend, Lan, is conscripted into Lon Nol’s army. A relative is ambushed by Khmer Rouge soldiers just miles out of Siem Reap. 1973 The local market is shelled. Ranachith starts high school; one day he is pushed into a protest that becomes a looting of Siem Reap stores downtown . School operation is sporadic. 1974 The family hosts a wedding ceremony for Serey. CHRONOLOGY xxiv 1975–77 The family receives news of Larony’s hospitalization in Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge takes over Siem Reap; looting occurs. Ranachith joins Serey in Krobey Riel. Later he finds his town empty. The Khmer Rouge bans money; forced weddings are rumored. Eventually the Khmer Rouge forbids private cooking and restricts travel. Ranachith and others are ordered to dig canals, and to fish, tend to rice fields...