The Cambodian conflict, also known as the Khmer Rouge insurgency,
was an armed conflict that began in 1979 when the
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
government of
Democratic Kampuchea
Democratic Kampuchea was the official name of the Cambodian state from 1976 to 1979, under the government of Pol Pot and the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), commonly known as the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge's capture of the capital Phno ...
was deposed during the
Cambodian-Vietnamese War. The war concluded in 1999 when the remaining Khmer Rouge forces surrendered. Between 1979 and the
1991 Paris Peace Agreements, the war was fought between the
Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
-supported
People's Republic of Kampuchea
The People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was a partially recognised state in Southeast Asia which existed from 1979 to 1989. It was a satellite state of Vietnam, founded in Cambodia by the Vietnamese-backed Kampuchean United Front for Nationa ...
and an
opposing coalition. After 1991, the
unrecognized Khmer Rouge government and insurgent forces continued to fight against the new
government of Cambodia
The politics of Cambodia are defined within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the king serves as the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In practice, Cambodia is an authoritarian state, as power i ...
from remote areas until their defeat in 1998.
After the fall of
Pol Pot's regime,
Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
came under Vietnamese military occupation, and a pro-Hanoi, Soviet government known as the People's Republic of Kampuchea was formed, led by the
Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation
The Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (, UNGEGN: ''Rônâsĕrs Samôkki Sângkrŏăh Chéatĕ Kâmpŭchéa''; , FUNSK), often simply referred to as Salvation Front, was the nucleus of a new Cambodian regime that would topple the K ...
. The conflict was fought during the 1980s between the People's Republic of Kampuchea and the
Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea
The Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK; , ''Roathaphibal Chamroh Kampuchea Pracheathipatai''), renamed in 1990 to the National Government of Cambodia (NGC; , ''Roathaphibal Cheat Ney Kampuchea''), was a coalition government in e ...
. The latter was a government-in-exile formed in 1981 that was composed of three Cambodian political factions: the royalist
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
party led by Prince
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
, the
Party of Democratic Kampuchea (often referred to as the Khmer Rouge), and the
Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF). The Khmer Rouge representative at the UN,
Thiounn Prasith, was maintained.
Throughout the 1980s the
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
, supported by China, Thailand, the United States, and the United Kingdom, continued to control a large part of the country and attacked territory that was not under its control. The conflict led to economic sanctions on Cambodia by the United States and its allies, which made reconstruction difficult and left the country extremely poor.
Peace efforts intensified between 1989 and 1991, with two international conferences in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
and a UN peacekeeping mission that helped maintain a ceasefire. The UN issued a mandate known as the
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992–93 formed following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. This was the first occasion in which the UN directly assumed re ...
(APRONUC) to enforce a ceasefire and deal with the issue of refugees and disarmament.
As part of the peace effort, UN-sponsored elections were held in
1993
The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as:
* International Year for the World's Indigenous People
The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...
, which helped restore some semblance of normality, and cement the gradual decline of the Khmer Rouge. However, a low-intensity conflict continued between the Cambodian army and Khmer Rouge guerrillas until 1998.
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
was restored as the king of Cambodia,
but the situation was intensified by the
1997 coup. A coalition government formed after
national elections in 1998, bringing political stability and renewing the surrender of the remaining Khmer Rouge forces that year.
The conflict
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge and the conflict with Vietnam, Cambodia's economic situation was disastrous. During the first six months of 1979, approximately 80,000 people fled from Cambodia to reach Thailand. Many refugees died as a result of
anti-personnel mine
An anti-personnel mine or anti-personnel landmine (APL) is a form of land mine, mine designed for use against human, humans, as opposed to an anti-tank mine, which target vehicles. APLs are classified into: blast mines and fragmentation mines; ...
s while attempting to cross into Thailand, and many of those who did survive were turned away by Thai authorities. The refugees were forced into camps, especially in
Preah Vihear province, where living conditions were precarious. Cambodia's food situation worsened further, with Vietnamese troops attacking during the rice harvest, and food stocks being looted by the two belligerent parties. From August 1979 onward, the exile of the Cambodians became truly cataclysmic. Over one million people driven by hunger moved to the Thai border. The Khmer Rouge also sent its worst-off troops to the
refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary Human settlement, settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for in ...
s where humanitarian aid, which flowed to the camps through the
Royal Thai Armed Forces
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF; ; ) are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (จอมทัพไทย; ) is the King of Thailand. The armed forces are managed by the Minist ...
, contributed to helping the Khmer Rouge troops get back on their feet. After the first wave of refugees came to Thailand, between 100,000 and 300,000 civilians remained sheltered in camps on the Thai border, along a strip of around 30 kilometres. Anti-Vietnamese forces were supplied by China, primarily with small arms, through Thailand.
[Cesari, 1995, p. 269] At the international level, the entry of Vietnamese troops into Cambodia was condemned by most countries under pressure from China and the U.S., which wished to prevent Vietnam from establishing itself as a dominant power in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
. The UN did not recognise the People's Republic of Kampuchea, and following a vote in November 1979, the body considered Democratic Kampuchea to be Cambodia's sole legitimate government.
Starting in 1983,
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...
's government sent elements of the British SAS, the
Special Air Service
The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling, and in 1950 it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terr ...
, to train the Khmer Rouge in landmine technologies. The U.S. and UK also imposed an embargo on Cambodia, resulting in serious consequences for the economy.
Thailand, which had been accepting refugees, opened the
Khao I Dang camp in
Sa Kaeo
Sa Kaeo (, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in Thailand, about 48 kilometers from the Thai-Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is ...
province on 19 November 1979, about ten kilometres from Cambodia where 150,000 people would soon arrive. Thailand intended to recruit all Cambodian men of military age to form a force capable of repelling a possible Vietnamese attack. Around 250,000 other Cambodians preferred to stay in no-man's land between the two countries.
Prince
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
, placed under house arrest by the Khmer Rouge in 1976, was taken from his palace during the Vietnamese offensive to be evacuated by plane to China. In the summer, an armed group favourable to the former monarch, the
Movement for the National Liberation of Kampuchea (MOULINAKA), was founded on the border with Thailand to fight against the Vietnamese. Former
corvette
A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper (or " rated") warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloo ...
operations captain, Kong Siloah, led it until his death in August 1980. Different groups of the
Khmer Serei
The Khmer Serei ( ; "Free Khmer") were an anti-communist and anti- monarchist guerrilla force founded by Cambodian nationalist Son Ngoc Thanh. In 1959, he published 'The Manifesto of the Khmer Serei' claiming that Sihanouk was supporting the ...
, or "Free Khmers", that carried out guerrilla operations against the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, also organized themselves to fight the Vietnamese.
Son Sann
Son Sann (, ; 5 October 191119 December 2000) was a Cambodian politician and anti-communist resistance leader who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Cambodia (1967–68) and later as President of the National Assembly (1993). A devout ...
, former prime minister of Sihanouk, brought together several Khmer Serei and soldiers who took refuge in the West to found the
National Front for the Liberation of the Khmer People (KPNLF). In April 1979, it had around ten thousand refugees transported by the Thai army to the mountainous region of
Sok San
Sok San is a Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the ...
n, opposite the province of
Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi (, ) is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in the east of Thailand, on the banks of the Chanthaburi River. It is the capital of the Chanthaburi Province and the Mueang Chanthaburi District.
The town covers the two ''tambons'' Talat an ...
, which he declared a "liberated zone" and from where he launched appeals to his compatriots.
Son Sann contacted Norodom Sihanouk in January 1979 so that he could take over the leadership of his troops, but the prince refused on several occasions. In early 1981, Sihanouk created, with the support of
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its member states r ...
countries, an organization intended to lead anti-Vietnamese resistance, known as the
National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC). Organized in March 1981, a group of his followers transported MOULINAKA troops to Khmer territory on the Thai border near the province of Surin. Former troops of Kong Siloah joined the prince's ten thousand supporters, with whom they founded the National Sihanoukist Army, which constituted the armed wing of FUNCINPEC.
During the summer of 1979, the Khmer Rouge took advantage of the monsoon that hampered the movement of Vietnamese troops to reorganize themselves to launch offensives, renaming their armed forces the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea. In July, Pol Pot installed his new headquarters, Bureau 131, under the flank of Mount Thom. The Khmer Rouge benefited from the assistance of Thai special forces, which ensured the training and recruitment of the Khmer armed forces.
In 1979,
Khieu Samphân assumed the leadership of a new body that took the place of the government in exile, the Front of the Grand National Democratic Patriotic Union of Kampuchea. Pol Pot was content with his more discreet role as commander of the armed forces and did not make any public appearances after 1980.
Three Cambodian resistance movements against the Vietnamese invasion coexisted from 1981 onward. This included the Khmer Rouge and its National Army of Democratic Kampuchea, led by Pol Pot and numbering 20 to 30,000 men,
Son Sann's KPNLF with 10,000 men,
and the Sihanoukist Nationalist Army with 6,000 men.
Each of these three movements extended their power over some Cambodian refugee camps. The Sihanoukist guerrillas had no supply problems, but their poor performance in the field prevented them from extending their authority to a significant number of civilians.
At first, Sihanoukist forces were practically non-existent. Prince Norodom Ranariddh, one of Sihanouk's sons, was installed in Bangkok as his father's special representative. He would be appointed commander-in-chief of the ANS, without any military qualifications. Ranariddh depended on the Khmer Rouge, whom he provided funds, and in return guaranteed the formation of the ANS. It was only gradually that the Sihanoukist National Army, like the FNLPK, distinguished itself by true feats of arms.
The Vietnamese occupation force numbered around 200,000 troops in 1981.
They were also responsible for training the army of the
People's Republic of Kampuchea
The People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was a partially recognised state in Southeast Asia which existed from 1979 to 1989. It was a satellite state of Vietnam, founded in Cambodia by the Vietnamese-backed Kampuchean United Front for Nationa ...
, the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces of Kampuchea, which initially numbered around 30,000 men. The U.S. gave the People's Republic of China a
carte blanche
A blank cheque or blank check in the literal sense is a cheque that has no monetary value written in, but is already signed. In the figurative sense, it is used to describe a situation in which an agreement has been made that is open-ended or va ...
on the Cambodian problem and continued to recognize Democratic Kampuchea as the government of Cambodia, mostly to mark its opposition to the
USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
-supported Vietnamese occupation. The UK and U.S., through Thailand, supported the Khmer Rouge as well as other guerrilla movements against the Vietnamese. Under American leadership, the
World Food Program
The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, ...
provided approximately US$12 million in food to the Khmer Rouge through the Thai army.
The USSR appeared to be quite overwhelmed by the situation in Cambodia. By supporting Vietnam, the Soviet military gained access to the ports on the Vietnamese coast. The Soviet government was not very active in Cambodia, since their attention was monopolized at the same time by the
Euromissile crisis and the
War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to:
*Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire
* Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...
.
Atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge seriously damaged their international credibility. To make them more presentable in the eyes of the international community, China urged them to ally themselves again with Norodom Sihanouk, a more acceptable personality in the eyes of the West. On the other hand, China and the U.S. only agreed to subsidize the Sihanoukist resistance if the prince formed an anti-Vietnamese coalition with the Khmer Rouge, which could provide him with troops. Sihanouk initially refused any idea of a new coalition with Pol Pot's men, as several of his children and grandchildren had disappeared between 1975 and 1979. However, in 1981, noticing that the Khmer Rouge were successfully resisting Vietnamese offensives to dislodge them from their strongholds, he agreed to ally with them again to have a chance to return to power. On 4 September 1981, Sihanouk, Khieu Samphân, and Son Sann published a joint statement announcing the formation of a coalition government to liberate Cambodia from "Vietnamese aggressors". Under the encouragement of China, which threatened to stop delivering weapons. The three factions formed the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (GCKD) on June 21, 1982, in Kuala Lumpur. The new faction would be chaired by Sihanouk and recognized by the UN. Son Sann would become the Prime Minister and Khieu Samphân the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for foreign affairs. This government would be recognized by the international community (except for the communist Eastern Bloc and
COMECON
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, often abbreviated as Comecon ( ) or CMEA, was an economic organization from 1949 to 1991 under the leadership of the Soviet Union that comprised the countries of the Eastern Bloc#List of states, Easter ...
countries) and maintained ambassadors to the UN and France. The GCKD served, in practice, as a political front to hide the international aid being given to the Khmer Rouge, which remained the most powerful military partner of the anti-Vietnamese coalition.

Guerrilla movements continued to carry out their actions along the border with Thailand. Khmer Rouge troops continued to invest in remote and mountainous areas and install anti-personnel mines, which caused many casualties among the civilian population. Son Sann and Sihanouk's goal was to exist militarily and then weigh in on any future negotiations. The ongoing conflict unfolded on a seasonal schedule. Each year, during the dry season, the Vietnamese People's Army attacked guerrilla camps, sometimes penetrating far into Thai territory. During the rainy season, the absence of paved roads immobilized Vietnamese mechanized units. This allowed the guerrillas to launch incursions into Cambodian territory. Starting in 1984, the Vietnamese mobilized the Cambodian population in a vast enterprise of passive defense. For three months, six months, or a year, civilians were forced to build roads to the west of the country, fortify villages, cut down forests, and dig protective dikes along the Thai border and part of the border with Laos.
The army of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, poorly motivated and forced to operate under the leadership of the Vietnamese army, suffered many desertions. Defensive measures organized by the Vietnamese army, built with the assistance of locals, were effective at repelling GCKD forces. The Khmer Rouge, the KPNLF, and the ANS were unable to regain their position within the country, where the presence of many Vietnamese in the cities and some camps further complicated their task. Vietnamese soldiers were also unable to put an end to the activities of the rebel movements, especially because China provoked Vietnam with border incidents – around 3,750 between 1979 and 1982 – in the
Tonkin
Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin, Tonquin or Tongking, is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain '' Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, including both the ...
region.
Vietnam was forced to further reinforce its military personnel, which resulted in dependence on Soviet supplies. Military spending represented 20% of Vietnam's GDP. Vietnam would end up taking around 17.5% of military aid and 20% of economic aid provided by the USSR to the
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Southern Cone, NATO, Western European countries and oth ...
. The U.S. financed Son Sann's KPNLF to increase Vietnam's stagnation in Cambodia. The Vietnamese threat also allowed the KPNLF to strengthen military cooperation with ASEAN countries. By the mid-1980s, the Cambodian conflict reached a military stalemate and increasingly weighed on Vietnamese and Soviet finances.
In April 1983, the
Vietnamese People's Armed Forces launched an offensive on the Cambodian-Thai border, provoking a response from the
Royal Thai Army
The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
History
Origin
The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...
, which shelled Vietnamese positions. In late 1984, the Vietnamese army attacked resistance bases with heavy weapons that it had not used for five years. In January 1985, the Vietnamese captured the Ampil base held by the FLNKP and the Phnom Malai base held by the Khmer Rouge which were on the border with Thailand. The Thai army retaliated and saw one of its helicopters shot down by the Vietnamese. This fighting provoked an additional exodus of refugees into camps in Thailand. Around 200,000 civilians fled to Thailand in 1985.
These military losses weakened the political weight of the resistance.
The defeat was a painful setback for Son Sann's troops, while the Sihanoukist National Army gained a positive reputation in battles, where they were only defeated because of the retreat of the Thai army, which allowed the Vietnamese to catch his troops from the rear.
Deprived of their main bases, the forces of the Khmer Rouge-KPNLF-ANS coalition took refuge in the jungle and continued carrying out guerrilla operations. If the Cambodian resistance was not in a position to militarily endanger the Vietnamese army, continued fighting would impede the country's normalization and exert political pressure on Vietnam.
The Vietnamese were interested in a negotiated exit from this endless and costly conflict, but they demanded the exclusion of the Khmer Rouge in future negotiations. Similarly, the Cambodian resistance coalition demanded the exclusion of the Vietnamese.
On September 2, 1985, Pol Pot, having reached the age of sixty, announced his retirement and left command of the Armed Forces to Son Sen. However, he assigned himself the role of presidency of a "Higher Institute of National Defense", a position with vague responsibilities but which seemed to indicate that the former general secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea maintained leadership of the Khmer Rouge troops. Around 10,000 men remained in practice under the command of Pol Pot, who operated from a camp located in Thailand.
Ta Mok also led 10,000 men in the
O Trao region. Khieu Samphân and Leng Sary, in turn, commanded troops in the
Battambang
Battambang (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang province and the List of cities and towns in Cambodia, third largest city in Cambodia. The city is situated on the Sangkae River, which winds its way through t ...
region and in Thai territory. China, willing to put the USSR in difficult situations in the region, continued to fuel the Khmer Rouge rebellion without openly approving Pol Pot's "excesses" as it once had.
Peace process
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's dissolution in 1991. He served a ...
's coming to power in the USSR marked a turning point in Soviet foreign policy. The USSR, now seeking to safeguard its economy and get rid of costly peripheral conflicts such as financing the Cambodian conflict, the
War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to:
*Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire
* Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...
, the
Angolan conflict, or allied regimes such as
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
. The new Soviet leader also expressed, in a speech delivered on July 24, 1986, the desire for rapprochement with the People's Republic of China, with which the Cambodian conflict remains the main dispute. Vietnam, which was also experiencing economic difficulties, realised that it could not count for long on the support of the USSR, whose help was financially essential to continue the war: it accelerated the withdrawal of its troops from Cambodia, which had already begun several years earlier.
Pol Pot's official withdrawal in the mid-1980s completed the conditions for the opening of peace negotiations, allowing Son Sann to propose to the government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea the opening of negotiations with the coalition of resistance forces.
In 1987, France and Australia launched for the possibility of an international conference responsible for drawing up a peace plan. Negotiations were however, destined to stumble for several years due to the role reserved for the Khmer Rouge.
On December 2, 1987, in
Fère-en-Tardenois
Fère-en-Tardenois (, literally ''Fère in Tardenois'') is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
It is named for the Tardenois region.
Population
Personalities
It was the birthplace of Camille Claudel ...
, then on January 20–21, 1988 in
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. ...
,
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
and Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen
Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
met to reach an agreement on the opening of negotiations between all resistance factions and the Phnom Penh government. Norodom Sihanouk refused to hold elections in Cambodia until the People's Republic of Kampuchea regime was reformed and renamed.
In July 1988, representatives of the
KPNLF, the
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
,
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
, and the government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea met in
Bogor
Bogor City (), or Bogor (, ), is a landlocked city in the West Java, Indonesia. Located around south of the national capital of Jakarta, Bogor is the 6th largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th overall nationwide. , Indonesia, and proposed the formation of a national reconciliation council.
Thailand, in the same period, changed its line of conduct to accelerate the Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia: Thai Prime Minister
Chatichai Choonhavan
Chatichai Choonhavan (; , ; 5 April 1920 – 6 May 1998) was a Thai army officer, diplomat and politician. From 1986 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Thai Nation Party and served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from August 1988 until the 1 ...
initiated a rapprochement with Vietnam and the People's Republic of Kampuchea to favour commercial relations with these two countries.
The United States government threatened Thailand with sanctions for breaking with the Sino-American position. Although negotiations continue. The United States, in turn, wanted the establishment of an independent, but also anti-Vietnamese, Cambodian government, which would be formed by the forces of Son Sann and Sihanouk, possibly with the support of the Khmer Rouge. Vietnam wants the four Cambodian forces – the Sihanouk camp, the Khmer Rouge, the KPNLF, and the People's Republic of Kampuchea – to agree among themselves on a program. China had a negative view of the Vietnamese project, as it would imply international recognition of the
People's Republic of Kampuchea
The People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was a partially recognised state in Southeast Asia which existed from 1979 to 1989. It was a satellite state of Vietnam, founded in Cambodia by the Vietnamese-backed Kampuchean United Front for Nationa ...
. Pol Pot, in turn, intended to take advantage of the peace process to extend his control throughout the country, sabotaging the planned elections.
To facilitate peace negotiations, Vietnam began removing its troops from Cambodia and Laos: on May 26, 1988. In August of the same year, China approved Sihanouk's plan that proposed installing an international force in Cambodia, after the ceasefire, to prevent the Khmer Rouge from returning to power by force; Beijing agreed to no longer support Cambodian resistance in exchange for a precise withdrawal timetable. Vietnam subsequently agreed to withdraw in September 1989: on April 5, 1989, the unilateral and unconditional withdrawal of the Vietnamese army was confirmed. The People's Republic of Kampuchea, whose legitimacy as an interlocutor was recognized by all parties involved, proceeded at the end of April for a constitutional revision to woo the Sihanoukists: the regime abandoned any reference to
Marxism–Leninism
Marxism–Leninism () is a communist ideology that became the largest faction of the History of communism, communist movement in the world in the years following the October Revolution. It was the predominant ideology of most communist gov ...
and took the official name of " State of Cambodia". The ruling party, the Kampuchea People's Revolutionary Party also renamed itself to the
Cambodian People's Party
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP; , UNGEGN: ) is a Cambodian political party which has ruled the country since 1979. Founded in 1951, it was originally known as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP).
During the Cold War it allied ...
(PPC).
In September 1989, the Vietnamese People's Army withdrew completely from Cambodia, with the conflict now being reduced to a minor armed conflict between Cambodian factions. The
State of Cambodia and the
Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea
The Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK; , ''Roathaphibal Chamroh Kampuchea Pracheathipatai''), renamed in 1990 to the National Government of Cambodia (NGC; , ''Roathaphibal Cheat Ney Kampuchea''), was a coalition government in e ...
agree to hold a medium-term electoral consultation, which would pave the way for national reconciliation. However, profound differences persisted over the composition of the country's government between the ceasefire and the elections. The Khmer Rouge was the main obstacle, as the Phnom Penh government categorically refused its participation in the coalition government. In November 1989, Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans proposed placing Cambodia under UN trusteeship until elections, which eliminated the threat of monopolization of power by the Khmer Rouge.
In June 1990, Hun Sen suggested that the future coalition government, which would be called the Cambodian Supreme National Council (CNS), would have equal representatives from the State of Cambodia and the GCKD. In July 1990, the United States finally stopped supporting the Khmer Rouge. Sihanouk, eager to weaken the Khmer Rouge, approached the State of Cambodia and proposed in May 1991 that leadership of the CNS be shared between a president (himself) and a vice president (Hun Sen).
The Khmer Rouge, which received approval from China in April to participate in the negotiations,
initially opposed this agreement, but this only increased its diplomatic isolation.
Meeting from June 24 to 26, 1991 in
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Eastern Thailand, the second-largest city in Chonburi province and the List of municipalities in Thailand, eighth-largest city in Thailand. It is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about southeast of Bangkok, and h ...
, Thailand, the four Cambodian parties finally signed an unconditional ceasefire agreement. In 1991, the Paris Accords on Cambodia were signed: the
Sihanoukist National Army and the
Khmer People's National Liberation Front consequently ceased armed struggle. The agreements place Cambodia under the tutelage of the United Nations, through the
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992–93 formed following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. This was the first occasion in which the UN directly assumed re ...
(UNTAC) which, with 17,000 soldiers and 8,000 civilians, has the mission of disarming the belligerents, supervising the two opposing administrations, preparing the country for elections and guarantee the return of around 350,000 refugees to the country. On July 17, Norodom Sihanouk assumed the presidency of the Supreme National Council, which must represented
Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
on the international stage. Inside the country, the
State of Cambodia and the guerrilla factions continued to, under the aegis of the United Nations, to administer their respective territories: nine-tenths of the country, therefore, remained under the control of the Hun Sen government. The Khmer Rouge agreed to the agreement under joint pressure from China, which wanted to improve its international image and put an end to its conflict with the USSR. Thailand too, was in a hurry to normalize its relations with other states in the region.
The peace resulting from the agreements was fragile. In November 1991,
Khieu Samphân and
Son Sen
Son Sen ( ; 12 June 1930 – 15 June 1997), alias Comrade Khieu () or "Brother Number 89", was a Cambodian Communist politician and soldier. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea/ Party of Democratic Kampuch ...
arrived in
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...
but were intimidated by an angry crowd led by
Hun Sen
Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
. The Khmer Rouge delegation then left the Cambodian capital. Son Sen was subsequently expelled from the Khmer Rouge Central Committee, with a ban on contact with
UNTAC
The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992–93 formed following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. This was the first occasion in which the UN List of territories ...
members.
The Khmer Rouge continued to receive diplomatic support from China, as well as discreet military aid. This was in part dew to China no longer needing to spare its relations with the disappeared USSR and instead to continue to limit Vietnam's influence in the region.
Having not given up on regaining power, the Khmer Rouge didn't allow the United Nations peacekeeping Forces to enter the areas they control; in addition, it continued to harass the armed forces. In 1992, they announced that they would not respect the Paris Agreement and decided to boycott the 1993 elections, preventing its enemies in the State of Cambodia the legitimacy of universal suffrage. Khmer Rouge Radio issued calls for assassinations against Vietnamese migrant workers, and in April 1993, on the eve of elections, around 100 Vietnamese residents of Cambodia were killed. Against all expectations,
the legislative elections were held from 24 to 28 May 1993 calmly and enjoyed massive participation, despite intimidation maneuvers by the Khmer Rouge.
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
obtained 45% of the votes and Hun Sen's PPC 36%. Son Sann's
Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (PDLB) gained ten elected officials. Sihanouk, seeing the popular backlash of the Khmer Rouge, gave up on the idea of a government of national unity that would include the Khmer Rouge. On June 14, the constituent assembly resulting from the elections give him full powers to form a government. Sihanouk, who in poor health, did not wish to assume leadership but intended to make himself appear judged. On the 24th,
Norodom Ranariddh
Norodom Ranariddh (; 2 January 1944 – 28 November 2021, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: , Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables, ALA-LC: ) was a Cambodian politician and law academic. He was the second son of King Norodom S ...
and
Hun Sen
Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
agreed to Sihanouk's proposals to form a
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
-
PPC national unity government, where power was distributed equally. Ranariddh became the first Prime Minister and Hun Sen, the second Prime Minister. On September 21, the assembly opted to return to parliamentary monarchy. Thirty-eight years after renouncing the title of king and twenty-three years after being removed from power,
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
becomes Cambodia's monarch again.
Second conflict
Excluding itself from the peace process, the Khmer Rouge maintained control of areas in northwestern Cambodia, in the provinces of
Battambang
Battambang (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang province and the List of cities and towns in Cambodia, third largest city in Cambodia. The city is situated on the Sangkae River, which winds its way through t ...
and
Siem Reap
Siem Reap (, ) is the second-largest city of Cambodia, as well as the capital and largest city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia.
Siem Reap possesses French-colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter ...
, neighboring Thailand. By 1993, its forces numbered around 10,000 fighters
and were able to extend its control to more than half a million Cambodians, four times as many as before the peace accords. Having lost the support of China, which distanced itself from them after realizing its electoral failure, as well as Thailand and Western countries, the Khmer Rouge had to count on other financial resources. This included sale of mining rights for precious stones (rubies and sapphires) and forestry products.
Its commercial activities generated around 200 million dollars per year.
However, its troops were weakened in the summer of 1993, when a thousand soldiers, following the elections, joined government troops. Sihanouk himself had not abandoned the idea of a peace agreement with the Khmer Rouge. The king, however, had only a symbolic role in the new constitution and Sihanouk was forced to frequently travel to China for medical treatment, which limited his control of the situation.
The Phnom Penh government, on the contrary, was determined to put an end to the Khmer Rouge. At the return of the dry season in the winter of 1993–1994, the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF; , ) is Cambodia's national military force. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is King Norodom Sihamoni. Since 2018, General Vong Pisen has been the Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF as head of the Army, Na ...
launched offensives against the reduced Khmer Rouge, but the troops of Son Sen and Pol Pot resisted longer than expected.
On 6 July 1994, the Cambodian assembly declared the Khmer Rouge "outlawed" and the two prime ministers asked the UN to establish a special court to try the leaders of
Democratic Kampuchea
Democratic Kampuchea was the official name of the Cambodian state from 1976 to 1979, under the government of Pol Pot and the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), commonly known as the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge's capture of the capital Phno ...
.
In November 1994, three tourists (one French, One British and one Australian) were captured in the Kampot region. The Khmer Rouge demanded a ransom, but also the abolition of the assembly vote that outlawed them. The three hostages would be executed.
From 1994 onwards, tensions between
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
and the
PPC increased. The two parties competed for power, while Hun Sen increasingly relied on authoritarian measures against his opponents such as
Sam Rainsy and opposition newspapers. In secret,
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
was negotiating a meeting with a Khmer Rouge faction based in
Pailin and led by
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary (; born Kim Trang; 24 October 1925 – 14 March 2013) was the co-founder and senior member of the Khmer Rouge and one of the main architects of the Cambodian genocide. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Par ...
, Pol Pot's brother-in-law. The
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of gove ...
party hoped that the Khmer Rouge could be used to build support against the
PPC.
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary (; born Kim Trang; 24 October 1925 – 14 March 2013) was the co-founder and senior member of the Khmer Rouge and one of the main architects of the Cambodian genocide. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Par ...
, who has lost influence over the years within the Khmer Rouge, was concerned about internal tensions within the movement. He would respond to General
Nhiek Bun Chhay's offers and on August 8, 1996, announced his break with
Pol Pot
Pol Pot (born Saloth Sâr; 19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998) was a Cambodian politician, revolutionary, and dictator who ruled the communist state of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976 until Cambodian–Vietnamese War, his overthrow in 1979. During ...
and their mobilisation into government forces. 3,000 men from his faction defected with him and were integrated by Hun Sen into the
official army despite Sihanouk's opposition. In exchange for this meeting, the Prime Minister obtained a "royal pardon" for
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary (; born Kim Trang; 24 October 1925 – 14 March 2013) was the co-founder and senior member of the Khmer Rouge and one of the main architects of the Cambodian genocide. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Par ...
which was not equivalent to a grace. The former Khmer Rouge chief, whose family reconverts to business with Thailand, settled into a comfortable residence in
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...
.
FUNCINPEC engaged in secret negotiations with several opposition parties and several of its cadres contact the Khmer Rouge to forge a military alliance with them against Hun Sen. On June 1, Norodom Ranariddh meet with
Khieu Samphân on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. A few days later, he publicly announced his agreement with the Khmer Rouge, specifying that he was planning the exile of
Pol Pot
Pol Pot (born Saloth Sâr; 19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998) was a Cambodian politician, revolutionary, and dictator who ruled the communist state of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976 until Cambodian–Vietnamese War, his overthrow in 1979. During ...
,
Son Sen
Son Sen ( ; 12 June 1930 – 15 June 1997), alias Comrade Khieu () or "Brother Number 89", was a Cambodian Communist politician and soldier. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea/ Party of Democratic Kampuch ...
, and
Ta Mok, considered the most radical leaders of the movement. FUNCINPEC's plan was in reality, to capture Pol Pot. On June 7, Radio Khmer Rouge categorically denied any agreement. Two days later, Norodom Sihanouk informed in turn, that he formally excludes the granting of his pardon to Pol Pot and Ta Mok, but not to Son Sen. Pol Pot believed that he has been betrayed and ordered the execution of Son Sen, who was killed together with his wife, former minister
Yun Yat, and thirteen members of his entourage and family.
Ta Mok fearing for his life decides to avoid suffering the same fate as Son Sen and lead his men to attack Pol Pot's troops, who quickly thereafter, captured. Negotiations between
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
and what remained of the Khmer Rouge movement continued.
1997 coup d'état and the final offensives
On July 5, the day before the signing of an agreement between
Ranariddh and
Khieu Samphân, Hun Sen took steps to avoid falling victim to an alliance between his enemies. Troops loyal to
Hun Sen
Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
attack the allies of the
Norodom Ranariddh
Norodom Ranariddh (; 2 January 1944 – 28 November 2021, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: , Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables, ALA-LC: ) was a Cambodian politician and law academic. He was the second son of King Norodom S ...
. The confrontation favoured Hun Sen and the king's son was forced into exile, while the clashes left more than a hundred dead, and several members of
FUNCINPEC
The National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia, commonly referred to as FUNCINPEC, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it began as a resistance movement again ...
murdered. While the
PPC removed FUNCINPEC from power, the Khmer Rouge settled their scores. On July 25, Pol Pot was publicly tried and sentenced to “life imprisonment” – in effect, house arrest by his former subordinates.
In 1998, offensives by
government troops completed the disarticulation of the Khmer Rouge. The
Anlong Veng district, Khmer Rouge headquarters since 1994 was conquered on March 29, thanks to the defection of one of
Ta Mok's commanders.
Ke Pauk also surrendered, while Ta Mok fled with his last followers. On April 15, as the Cambodian army approached the Khmer Rouge's last stronghold, Pol Pot was prepared by his jailers to be taken to Thailand. However, he succumbed to a heart attack before being evacuated, possibly helped to die by his Thai military doctor.
What remained of the Khmer Rouge took up refuge a few kilometers from the border with Thailand. Ta Mok and 250 to 300 soldiers engaged in banditry to survive. On 25 December,
Khieu Samphân and
Nuon Chea
Nuon Chea (; born Lao Kim Lorn; 7 July 1926 – 4 August 2019), also known as Long Bunruot () or Rungloet Laodi ( ), was a Cambodian communism, communist politician and revolutionary who was the chief ideologist of the Khmer Rouge. He also briefl ...
were handed over to Cambodian authorities by the Thai army. They are welcomed as high dignitaries, with Hun Sen pledging not to bring them before national or international courts, in the name of "national reconciliation". On the other hand, the Cambodian Prime Minister refused any pardon for Ta Mok. Khieu Samphân and Nuon Chea apologized for their role in the
Cambodian genocide
The Cambodian genocide was the systematic persecution and killing of Cambodian citizens by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot. It resulted in the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly 25% of Cambodia's populati ...
and declared “The Khmer Rouge are over!”
Ta Mok, the last Khmer Rouge leader still at large, was captured by the Thai army and handed over to Cambodian authorities on March 6, 1999, thus marking an end for the Khmer Rouge's over 19 years of insurgency.
See also
*
Third Indochina War
The Third Indochina War was a series of interconnected military conflicts, mainly among the various communist factions over strategic influence in Indochina after Communist victory in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in 1975. The conflict pri ...
*
Cambodian humanitarian crisis
*
K5 Plan
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cambodian conflict (1979-1998)
Khmer Rouge
Wars involving Cambodia
People's Republic of Kampuchea
Third Indochina War
History of Cambodia
*
Aftermath of the Cambodian genocide
Civil wars involving the states and peoples of Asia
Revolution-based civil wars
Proxy wars
1970s conflicts
1980s conflicts
1990s conflicts
Insurgencies in Asia
Military history of Cambodia
Cold War conflicts
Cambodian Civil War