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Pol Pot's Birth
He was born in Kampong Thom Province, French Indochina -
France's Defeat
France is defeated -
Independence From France
King Norodom Sihanouk proclaims independence from France, but soon abdicates to go into politics. -
Pol Pot - Party Secretary
Pol Pot became the party secretary and leader of the CPK. -
4 Year Plan
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
Cambodian Civil War. Marshal Lon Nol and his pro-American associates staged a successful coup to depose Prince Sihanouk as head of state. -
Major Player in the Civil War
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. -
Capture of Phnom Penh
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
S-21, Toul Sleng prison becomes active. -
Second Round of Purges
Pol Pot begins a second round of "purges" aimed at eliminating all communist dissidents and moderates. -
Vietnam vs. Cambodia
Fighting breaks out between Vietnam and Cambodia -
Vietnamese overthrow Pol Pot Government
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. -
Enemies unite
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 -
Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader
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 -
informal peace talks
Vietnam and Thailand, on behalf of non-Communist Southeast Asia begin informal talks on a peaceful settlement of the Cambodian issue. -
Negotiations
Negotiations open between all the partners in the Coalition Government and the Vietnamese-installed Phnom Penh regime -
Paris Conference
After the first Paris Conference on Cambodia, Vietnamese troops withdraw from the country and the Khmer Rouge attempts to regain power. -
The State of Cambodia is proclaimed
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. -
The Paris Peace Conference
Four opposing factions in Cambodia have to sign an agreement along with the Khmer Rouge, although they refuse to abide by the provisions. -
Coalition Government
General elections result in the FUNCINPEC Party and the Cambodian People’s Party forming a coalition government. -
Pol Pot's Trial
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 Arrested
Pol Pot is arrested by one of his colleagues after in-fighting within the Khmer Rouge. He is sentenced to house arrest. -
Ta Mok Arrested
Ta Mok is himself arrested by Cambodian officials. He was notorious during the Khmer Rouge years, when he earned the nickname “the Butcher.” l -
Last Stonghold
The Khmer Rouge’s last stronghold falls to Cambodian forces. In April 1998 Pol Pot dies in a jungle hideout. -
Pol Pot's Death
Pol Pot dies. Nuon Chea surrenders and is then allowed to live as a private citizen in Pailin province, Cambodia. -
Duch Arrested
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. -
UN Agreement
The U.N. and Cambodia agree to establish the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia to try Khmer Rouge leaders.
