Talk:History of Cambodia

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The numbers of folks killed during the Combodian genocide are well-known enough among scholars (this includes undergrad students) that citations aren't really all that necessary. Approximately 25% of both urban and rural Khmer died, about half of Chinese city-dwellers, all or nearly all Vietnemes city-dwellers, and about 40% of the Lao. These figures apply to "new" (that is, non-base) citizens. Among base citizens, 15% of rural Khmer, 36% of Chams, nearly 100% of Vietnemese, 40% of Thai, and 15% of the upland minorities (including the Khmer Loeu) died. These numbers are from Kiernen's chapter on Cambodia in Century of Genocide, p. 343. Similar numbers are presented in Kiernen's The Pol Pot Regime, Melson's Revolution and Genocide, and Powers' A Problem From Hell. While scholars do exist who wish to say that genocide (as defined by the 1948 UN convention) did not occur in Cambodia, the numbers and methods used by the KR seem to starkly deny their claim. Keep in mind that the destruction of a culture, forced relocation of children, etc all count as genocide. In total, approximately 1.7 million people died in the period 1975-79, about 21% of the population.

It seems clear that the brutal treatement of the Khmer citizens does not count for genocide (class is not even cited in the 1948 convention). Ethnic Vietnemese, Chinese, and Chams were certainly genocided, however; I don't know enough about the Thai to say one way or the other.

The regime basically did control every aspect of life. A basic work day was fieldwork from 4-10 am, an hour for lunch, then work until around 6 pm in the fields. There was a break for dinner, followed by more fieldwork or the tending of garden-plots. See Century of Genocide for more detail. What you're claiming as "outrageous" is, in actuality, pretty well known. Further, only Khmer was allowed to be spoken, religion was outlawed (Muslim Chams were forced to eat pork), etc.

"Older faiths such as Mahayana Buddhism and the Hindu cult of the god-king had been supplanted by Theravada Buddhism, and the Cambodians had become part of the same religious and cultural cosmos as the Thai. This similarity did not prevent intermittent warfare between the two kingdoms, however."

please check your fact. the last time i checked the history of the southeast asian region, the khmer empire established theravada buddhism well before the thai gain control on part of khmer empire. also, khmer culture predate that of thai and thai were from the southern china region. thai addopted and assimulated khmer culture and religion through conquests and capturing of khmer royal court. what is written here is the reverse and incorrect.

I just finished breaking this article into series. The component articles need lots of wikifying. Help will be appreciated! --Jiang 03:40, 27 Oct 2003 (UTC)

This article makes no reference to the NVA supplying of the Khmer Rouge with weapons and other supplies. Not much of what happens makes sense without it. Stargoat 23:28, 18 Mar 2004 (UTC)

It should be noted that:

The U.S. bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War in an effort to eliminate NVA and VC targets was illegal. The article mentions in reference, that the U.S. bombed within 10-30 miles of the Vietnam border, but does not mention that this bombing was illigetimate for the following reasons:

1. Cambodia had not entered into the Vietnam War.

2. NVA occupation was involuntary; on the part of Cambodia.

While this does not change the elapse of events noted in the article, it has important historical value in the involvement of world powers in indo-china and United States Foreign Policy; in Cambodia.

Wardell-Burrus, Travers Travers2586 12:25, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Remnants of the old society

In "The new government sought to completely restructure Cambodian society. Remnants of the 100 year old French colonial society were abolished and religion, particularly Buddhism, was suppressed.", the "100 year old French colonial society" was removed. I think a real question, considering that Cambodia was French colony for 100 years prior to the CPK takeover, is whether the CPK was changing Cambodian society, or whether it was simply casting off most of the 100 years of French colonialism, and the colonialists attempt to take over Cambodian society. Cambodia has a long history, and the French foreign colonialists were only there for 100 years, and their influence was mostly limited to the cities, is getting rid of this foreign influence once control is taken from them and their puppets and trying to restore Cambodian society, autonomy and so forth from it's 100 year absence more of an attempt to fundamentally change Cambodian society, or more of an attempt to shake off 100 years of colonialism? Hanpuk 18:20, 6 May 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Cholas in Cambodia?

I find the architecture of temples in Cambodia to be similar to the Chola architecture. Also, I've read that Cholas ruled parts of Cambodia. Recently, I heard that Thevaram, a Tamil language hymn was recited on the occasion of the coronation of the new king there. Is that true? If so, can some one make a mention of the Cholas in the article? -- Sundar 10:37, Nov 24, 2004 (UTC)

You're probaly thinking about the Sri Vijayans. The Khmer people were never ruled by the Cholas, the greatest extant reached the north of the malay peninsula. Its probaly simmiliar because the Khmers blended Indian and native indo-chinese culture together. CanCanDuo 02:20, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Deja vu

i was reading this article and it struck me how familiar the passages were.. Then i looked back at Diane Law's book 'the worlds most evil dictators' ISBN - 9 781405 488266 and was surprised to see the two match word for word. What dores this mean for the article? rewrite? alwrite? (cough). Billcarr178 23:03, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] CIA involvement in Sihanouk case

I have a problem with following statement

  The United States saw Prince Sihanouk as a North Vietnamese sympathizer and
  a thorn on the United States, and using the CIA, it began plans to get rid of
  Sihanouk.[2]

The problem is that reference [2] does not support fully above statement. Is there any evidence that CIA planned to get rid of Sihanouk? I've tried to find something on the net but failed due to time constraints :] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.203.37.168 (talk) 23:41, 24 September 2007 (UTC)