| Chapter 1: | History and Consequence |
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Rouge had already obtained the United Nations (UN) seat, being officially recognized by the 63 UN member countries as the leading party in Cambodia. What was seen as a victory in the first few hours of the Khmer Rouge entering Phnom Penh was soon to become a 4-year nightmare.
The entire population of Phnom Penh was evacuated in a matter of hours.24 When asked for reasons for the evacuation, the Khmer Rouge responded that it was to avoid the bombing of the capital by the US imperialists. Unfortunately, this excuse was very believable. Cambodians left in all directions, as instructed by the Khmer Rouge, with an initial promise that they would be able to return in 3 days. This promise was far from realistic. Cambodians were placed in work groups around the country. Families were split apart. Money was abolished. Cambodians with western educations were systematically killed. Doctors and teachers were murdered. Death, murder, rape, torture, disease, starvation, and suicide became commonplace. The name of the country was officially changed to Democratic Kampuchea and time was started over, celebrating April 17, 1975, as the beginning of time.25
Late in 1976, after having established himself as the ruler of Cambodia, Saloth Sar turned against the Vietnamese and declared them enemies. Border disputes between Cambodia and Vietnam escalated throughout the Khmer Rouge reign of Cambodia until finally, in 1979, more than 100,000 Vietnamese troops were ordered across Cambodia’s border to gain control of the country. Vietnam colonized Cambodia for the next 10 years. Pol Pot lived the rest of his life in exile, eventually dying April 15, 1998, in the comfort of his home.
The amount of landmine-related ordnance used by the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979 can only be approximated. In spite of data limitations regarding landmine-specific incidents during this period, information substantiating the supply of armament (including landmines) from both Vietnam and the former Soviet Union is documented at the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh. According to these reports, armament was initially provided to the Khmer Rouge from the North Vietnamese armies. After breaking away from Vietnamese control, however, the Khmer Rouge sought and received financial support from the former Soviet