Modern history of Cambodia a timeline Courtney Smith

Modern history of Cambodia: a timeline Courtney Smith & David Callahan | Intro to Adult Education in the US | 5 November 2014

1942 -1959 Modern history of Cambodia 1942 Japanese forces occupy Cambodia, leaving the administration in the hands of Vichy France officials 1947 The provinces of Battambang, Siem Reap and Sisiphon, seized by the Thais during the Japanese occupation, are returned 1953 King Sihanouk’s royal crusade for independence succeeds and Cambodia goes it alone without the French on 9 November 1955 King Sihanouk abdicates from the throne to enter a career in politics and wins the elections with ease 1959 Vietnam war begins

1963 -1970 Modern history of Cambodia 1963 Pol Pot and Ieng Sary flee from Phnom Penh to the jungles to launch a guerilla war against Sihanouk’s government 1965 The US sends combat troops into South Vietnam 1968 The North Vietnamese Army retreats into Laos and Cambodia 1969 US President Nixon authorizes the secret bombing of Cambodia, which continues until 1973, killing as many as 250, 000 Cambodians 1970 Sihanouk is overthrown by (pro-American General) Lon Nol and Prince Sirik Matak, and sentenced to death in absentia; the civil war begins; US and South Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia

1972 -1975 Modern history of Cambodia 1972 The Khmer Rouge’s army grows to some 50, 000 soldiers, many of whom joined to retaliate for the US bombings 1973 Sihanouk visits his Khmer Rouge allies at Phnom Kulen, an unfortunate propaganda victory for Pol Pot. The Vietnamese and Americans sign the Paris Peace Agreement. The Vietnamese begin to withdraw their troops from Cambodia. The last remaining American troops withdraw from Vietnam. The U. S. stops its bombing campaign on Cambodia, in which nearly 540, 000 tons of bombs were dropped. 1975 Fall of South Vietnam; reunification of North and South. The Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia. Approximately 34, 000 Cambodians flee toward Thailand to escape the government-sponsored genocide, which results in the murder of nearly one quarter of the population

1979 -1989 Modern history of Cambodia 1979 Refugee camps open in Thailand to house some 160, 000 Cambodian refugees. Vietnamese forces liberate Cambodia from Khmer Rouge rule and install a friendly regime in Phnom Penh 1980 Cambodia is gripped by famine, as the dislocation of the previous few years means that no rice has been harvested 1985 The Khmer Rouge and its allies are forced to retreat to Thailand 1988 The Vietnamese begin gradual troop withdrawal from Cambodia 1989 Vietnam announces the withdrawal of its forces from Cambodia

1991 -1994 Modern history of Cambodia 1991 The Paris Peace Accords are signed; all parties agree to participate in free and fair elections supervised by the UN, who begins repatriating over 350, 000 refugees from the camps in Thailand. 1993 Royalist party Funcinpec wins the popular vote, but the CPP threaten secession in the east to muscle their way into government 1994 The Khmer Rouge target foreign tourists in Cambodia, kidnapping and killing groups travelling by taxi and train to the south coast. US Trade Embargo lifted against Vietnam

1994 -1998 Modern history of Cambodia 1994 Prince Norodom Sirivudh is arrested and exiled for allegedly plotting to kill Prime Minister Hun Sen 1997 Second Prime Minister Hun Sen overthrows First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh in a military coup 1998 Pol Pot dies in 15 April, forever depriving Cambodians of the chance for justice RAY, NICK &BATCHELOR, TRISH. (2005). CAMBODIA. OAKLAND, CA: LONELY PLANET. HTTP: //WWW. PBS. ORG/INDEPENDENTLENS/REFUGEE/WAR_CAMBODIA. HTML