-
He was born in Kampong Thom Province, French Indochina
-
France is defeated
-
King Norodom Sihanouk proclaims independence from France, but soon abdicates to go into politics.
-
Pol Pot became the party secretary and leader of the CPK.
-
Khmer Rouge leaders write their first "Four-Year Plan," which calls for seizing all private property and establishes rice cultivation as a primary initiative.
-
Cambodian Civil War. Marshal Lon Nol and his pro-American associates staged a successful coup to depose Prince Sihanouk as head of state.
-
The Khmer Rouge became a major player in the civil war and gained members because many people resented Lon Nol. At this time, 85 percent of Cambodian territory was controlled by the Khmer Rouge.
-
Khmer Rouge forces led by Pol Pot capture Phnom Penh. The new government declares the start of Year Zero as it begins a forced relocation to the countryside in their drive to build their vision of an agrarian utopia. A four-year reign of terror following that leaves an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians.
-
S-21, Toul Sleng prison becomes active.
-
Pol Pot begins a second round of "purges" aimed at eliminating all communist dissidents and moderates.
-
Fighting breaks out between Vietnam and Cambodia
-
Vietnam invades Cambodia overthrowing Pol Pot government and installing new regime. Twelve years of civil war follow pitting the Khmer Rouge, nationalists and royalists against each other.
-
Under pressure from China and Southeast Asia neighbours, Sihanouk and principal Communist resistance movement, agree reluctantly to join their Khmer Rouge enemies in a united front against Vietnam
-
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader and cuts Soviet military and economic aid to Vietnam, which depended heavily on it, resulting in Vietnam reducing its costly occupation of Cambodia
-
Vietnam and Thailand, on behalf of non-Communist Southeast Asia begin informal talks on a peaceful settlement of the Cambodian issue.
-
Negotiations open between all the partners in the Coalition Government and the Vietnamese-installed Phnom Penh regime
-
After the first Paris Conference on Cambodia, Vietnamese troops withdraw from the country and the Khmer Rouge attempts to regain power.
-
The Phnom Penh government nominally renounces communism and changes the country's name from the People's Republic of Kampuchea to the State of Cambodia. Vietnam withdraws its last occupation troops.
-
Four opposing factions in Cambodia have to sign an agreement along with the Khmer Rouge, although they refuse to abide by the provisions.
-
General elections result in the FUNCINPEC Party and the Cambodian People’s Party forming a coalition government.
-
Pol Pot is put on trial by the Khmer Rouge and he is sentenced to life imprisonment. Deputy leader of the Khmer Rouge had been allowed to form a new party.
-
Pol Pot is arrested by one of his colleagues after in-fighting within the Khmer Rouge. He is sentenced to house arrest.
-
Ta Mok is himself arrested by Cambodian officials. He was notorious during the Khmer Rouge years, when he earned the nickname “the Butcher.” l
-
The Khmer Rouge’s last stronghold falls to Cambodian forces. In April 1998 Pol Pot dies in a jungle hideout.
-
Pol Pot dies. Nuon Chea surrenders and is then allowed to live as a private citizen in Pailin province, Cambodia.
-
Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, prison chief at the notorious S-21 prison, where an estimated 17,000 people were questioned, tortured and killed, is charged with murder and membership in an outlawed group under the 1994 Cambodian law banning the Khmer Rouge.
-
The U.N. and Cambodia agree to establish the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia to try Khmer Rouge leaders.
