Chris' Timeline of Cambodia

By rassmussencjs

  • Cambodia wins its independence from France. Under King Sihanouk, it becomes the Kingdom of Cambodia.

  • Sihanouk abdicates to pursue a political career. His father becomes king and Sihanouk becomes prime minister.

  • King Norodom Suramarit died, Sihanouk became head of state

  • Cambodia severed ties with South Vietnam

  • Sihanouk broke off relations with United States, allowed North Vietnamese guerillas to set up bases

  • US B-52's drop 3,000 ton bombs at Cambodian boundary

  • Cambodia recognizes German DR

  • Cambodia military coup under General Lon Nol, Prince Sihanuk flees

  • US and South Vietnamese forces launch an incursion into Cambodia, expanding the Vietnam War

  • US troops invade Cambodia

  • Cambodia launches bloody incursions into Vietnam

  • Phnom Penh falls to the Vietnamese, who install a new regime. Civil war begins, pitting the Khmer Rouge, nationalists and royalists against each other.

  • Hun Sen, a former Khinted as prime minister of Cambodia's Vietnam-installed government.

  • Vietnam says it has withdrawn from Cambodia.

  • A peace treaty is signed to end the conflict. Cambodia is placed under UN supervision until elections are held. UN peacekeepers begin operations almost five months later

  • After decades of unrest, the first democratic elections are held, sponsored by the UN.

  • Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the royalist Funcinpec party becomes first prime minister, and Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party is named second prime minister.

  • The Khmer Rouge is outlawed

  • Former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary defects to the Cambodian government, bringing thousands of followers with him.

  • Hun Sen ousts Norodom Ranariddh from power after violent clashes between the two factions.

  • Pol Pot dies while under house arrest by Khmer Rouge rebels who had turned against him.

  • Khmer Rouge ideologue Nuon Chea, Pol Pot's deputy, defects to the government along with the regime's ex-head of state Khieu Samphan.

  • Cambodian authorities arrest Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, for his role as head of the Khmer Rouge S-21 interrogation centre

  • After tough negotiations, the United Nations and Cambodia agree to an international tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders.

  • Ta Mok, known as "The Butcher", dies before appearing in front of the tribunal