History UsefulNotes / Cambodia

[[FromBadToWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] Pol Pot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese[[labelnote:*]]going by some estimates, the entire ethnic Vietnamese population of Cambodia may have been killed, making this one of the rare times where a genocide was successful[[/labelnote]], Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

* Monsoon, one of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Winds of Destruction]] from VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance, is Cambodian and is heavily implied to have suffered extreme trauma during the days of the Pol Pot regime.

In what can only be described as a major WhatTheHellHero moment, The United States and much of the United Nations sided with China to continue to recognize the genocidal Khmer Rouge as the legitimate government -- even letting them keep the UN seat for Cambodia -- as opposed to the invading, Soviet-backed, but at least non-genocidal and non-batguano crazy Vietnamese regime.

* ''TheKillingFields'', a British movie about a couple of journalists, a British and a Cambodian, whose friendship is suddenly torn apart by the Khmer Rouge regime.

The place where everybody [[HolidayInCambodia goes on vacation]], Cambodia is full of tropical jungles, guerilla warfare, and young women saying [[MeLoveYouLongTime “Me love you long time”]] (''Vietnamese'' women, mind you). Or at least that’s what the media wants you to think.

The place where everybody [[HolidayInCambodia goes on vacation]], Cambodia is full of tropical jungles, guerilla warfare, and young women saying [[MeLoveYouLongTime “Me love you long time”]] (''Vietnamese'' women, mind you). Or at least, that’s what the media wants you to think, regardless of the UnfortunateImplications.

->Blue and red are traditional colors of Cambodia; at the center is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat Angkor Wat]], and obviously the country's most iconic landmark. The Angkor War and the blue and red stripes symbolize Buddhism, the King and the people, respectively.

Once the Khmer Empire, disputes with its neighbors pushed King Norodom to become a protectorate of France and, eventually, part of the French Indochina. When Norodom died, the French began to manipulate the elections of the next kings to ensure the Cambodian submission. Eventually they enthroned the King Norodom Sihanouk, thinking they could [[UnwittingPawn manipulate him]]. Unfortunately for them, he was {{genre savvy}} enough to realize it and achieved the country’s independence in 1953.

[[AC: The Cambodian flag]]
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/158px-Flag_of_Cambodia_svg_7666.png

[[FromBadToWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] Pol Pot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches]]. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese[[hottip:*:going by some estimates, the entire ethnic Vietnamese population of Cambodia may have been killed, making this one of the rare times where a genocide was successful]], Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

Cambodia today is a constitutional monarchy (unusually for an ex-communist country, they not only restored the monarchy, but also restored the former monarch[[hottip:*:In fairness, he was a monarch who loved to be photographed with Mao Zedong and Kim il-Sung, so, yeah...) that, aside of a coup in 1997, has a steady government.

Cambodia today is a constitutional monarchy (unusually for an ex-communist country, they not only restored the monarchy, but also restored the former monarch) that, aside of a coup in 1997, has a steady government.

[[FromBadToWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] Pol Pot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches]]. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese[[hottip:*:going by some estimates, the entire ethnic Vietnamese population of Cambodia may have been killed, making this one of the (thankfully very rare)times where a genocide was successful]], Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

[[FromBadToWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] Pol Pot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches]]. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] Pol Pot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches]]. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge rebels and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country into [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and soon decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population into the deep countryside on forced marches]]. Why? To destroy everything and start the nation from YearZero. The harsh conditions, forced labor and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and their death squads killed all the ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Javanese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'' since that was a sign of literacy).

Pol Pot was also kinda lousy with geography, [[MajoredInWesternHypocrisy despite studying in France]], and believed that he could continue his mad rampages across the border, in the Khmer-speaking areas of {{Vietnam}}. Naturally, the Vietnamese (even Vietnamese Khmer, who, despite being a forgotten minority living in the middle of nowhere, and thus bearing the brunt of communist mismanagement, at least weren't murdered by gardening hoes[[hottip:*:to save bullets]] ''en masse''). In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, got rid of the Khmer Rouge and put a puppet state in its place, run by former Khmer Rouge defectors. Meanwhile, the original Khmer Rouge controlled much of the countryside and, eventually, [[GambitPileup a third faction]] of royalists called Khmer People’s National Liberation Front appeared on the scene. This civil war continued until 1991, after the Khmer Rouge guerrillas lost the last semblance of popular support, and an agreement between the parts could be achieved.

Pol Pot was also kinda lousy with geography, [[MajoredInWesternHypocrisy despite studying in France]], and believed that he can continue his mas rampages across the border, in the Khmer-speaking areas of {{Vietnam}}. Naturally, the Vietnamese (even Vietnamese Khmer, who, despite being a forgotten minority living in the middle of nowhere, and thus bearing the brunt of communist mismanagement, at least weren't murdered by gardening hoes[[hottip:*:to save bullets]] ''en masse''). In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, got rid of the Khmer Rouge and put a puppet state in its place, run by former Khmer Rouge defectors. Meanwhile, the original Khmer Rouge controlled much of the countryside and, eventually, [[GambitPileup a third faction]] of royalists called Khmer People’s National Liberation Front appeared on the scene. This civil war continued until 1991, after the Khmer Rouge guerrillas lost the last semblance of popular support, and an agreement between the parts could be achieved.

The place where everybody [[HolidayInCambodia goes on vacation]], Cambodia is full of jungles, guerilla warfare, and women saying [[MeLoveYouLongTime “Me love you long time”]] (Vietnamese women, mind you). Or at least, that’s what the media wants you to think, regardless of the UnfortunateImplications.

Then TheVietnamWar came. Officialy, Cambodia was neutral, even though its sympathies were with the communists. This and the fact that some Vietcong forces along with the communist guerrillas of Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, sheltered in Cambodian soil prompted the United States to support a coup led by General Lon Nol, hastening the falling of the country into a civil war. And just to add insult to injury, the States decided to bomb Cambodia without warning to catch the communists unaware. They did, but they also caught the Cambodians and the US representatives in Cambodia off-guard.

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'').

Initially Khmer Rouge enjoyed broad popular support of the poor, uneducated peasant masses of village Khmer, who were envious towards "[[CityMouse those city guys]]", which wasn't helped by the fact that a lot of city-dwellers were ethnically Chinese, and were overrepresented in the higher classes. But soon it turned out that [[EvilArmy Khmer Rouge]] in general, and Pol Pot in particularity, didn't held any distinction between two populations. Their motto was "To keep you is no benefit; to destroy you is no loss," and they cheerfully applied it to anyone. Pol Pot's regime led to the death of around 2 million people out of a population of 8 million.

Pol Pot was also kinda lousy with geography, [[MajoredInWesternHypocrisy despite studying in France]], and believed that he can continue his rampages across the border, in Khmer-speaking areas of {{Vietnam}}. Naturally, Vietnamese (even Vietnamese Khmer, who, despite being a largely forgotten minority living in the middle of nowhere, and thus bearing the brunt of typical socialist mismanagement, at least weren't murdered by gardening hoes[[hottip:*:to save bullets]] ''en masse''). In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, got rid of the Khmer Rouge and put a puppet state in its place, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, while the Khmer Rouge controlled much of the country and, eventually, [[GambitPileup a third faction]] of royalists called Khmer People’s National Liberation Front appeared on the scene. This civil war continued until 1991, after Khmer Rouge lost the last semblance of popular support, and an agreement between the parts could be achieved.

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses''). Their motto was "To keep you is no benefit; to destroy you is no loss." Pol Pot's regime led to the death of around 2 million people out of a population of 8 million.

In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, got rid of the Khmer Rouge and put a puppet state in its place, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, while the Khmer Rouge controlled much of the country and, eventually, [[GambitPileup a third faction]] of royalists called Khmer People’s National Liberation Front appeared on the scene. This civil war continued until 1991, when an agreement between the parts could be achieved.

The place where everybody [[HolidayInCambodia goes on vacation, full of jungles, the guerilla warfare and women saying]] [[MeLoveYouLongTime “Me love you long time”]] (Vietnamese women, mind you). Or at least, that’s what the media wants you to think, regardless of the UnfortunateImplications.

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses''). Pol Pot's regime led to the death of around two million people out of a population of 8 million.

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses''). Pol Pot's reigme led to the death of around two million people out of a population of 8 million.

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader,]] PolPot. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'').

In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, got rid of the Khmer Rouge and put a puppet state in its place, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, while the Khmer Rouge controlled much of the country and, eventually, [[ThirtyXanatosPileup a third faction]] of royalists called Khmer People’s National Liberation Front appeared on the scene. This civil war continued until 1991, when an agreement between the parts could be achieved.

[[quoteright:329:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cambodia-map_3078.gif]]

* The song “''Holiday in Cambodia''”, the TropeNamer of the [[HolidayInCambodia eponymous trope]], deals in length with the usual stereotype of the zone. It also has mentions of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/125px-Flag_of_Cambodia_svg_1904.png

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader, Pol Pot]]. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnic and religious minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Catholics), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'').

[[ItGotWorse The civil war ended in 1975 with the victory of the Khmer Rouge and their leader, Pol Pot]]. They renamed the country [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Democratic Kampuchea]] and decided to [[MoralEventHorizon move the population to the countryside on forced marches]], on an attempt of [[YearZero starting from zero]] the nation. The harsh conditions, forced works and famine caused thousands of deaths. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed anything considered Western, including libraries and temples, and started to persecute ethnical minorities (Chinese, Vietnamese, Buddhist monks, Islamists), anyone with a connection with the old regime or international agencies and anyone considered an intellectual (usually that meant anyone who used to work at libraries, universities or hospitals, or anyone who wore ''eyeglasses'').

The place where everybody [[HolidayInCambodia goes on vacation, full of jungles, the guerilla warfare and women saying]] [[MeLoveYouLongTime “Me love you long time”]] (Vietnamese woman, mind you). Or at least, that’s what the media wants you to think, regardless of the UnfortunateImplications.