Far East Kingdoms

Cambodian Republics (South-East Asia)
AD 1970 - 1993
Incorporating Khmer Republic / First Republic (1970-1976), Democratic Kampuchea / Second Republic (1976-1979), People's Republic of Kampuchea / Third Republic (1979-1989), & State of Cambodia / Fourth Republic (1989-1993)

Cambodia All Modern States China Japan Korea Laos Oceania Thailand Vietnam

The history of Asia can broadly be broken down into regional divisions, as well as time periods. The fall of the Khmer empire in South-East Asia dramatically reduced a state which at one time had controlled much of this Asian region. But it also set in motion the process of formation for today's states of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

The Khmer empire's successor was what is known as the 'Middle Kingdom', in the country of Kambuja (Cambodia). The French of the second empire took control of the state in 1863, starting a 'Colonial Cambodia'. By the time their protectorate was established, Cambodia's territory had generally shrunk to that of modern Cambodia, plus southern Vietnam and a small part of southern Laos. Siam lay to the west, Champassak to the north-east, and Dai Nam to the east.

The Second World War introduced fervent nationalism and a drive towards independence from French Indochina which became reality in 1954. France withdrew its forces from Cambodia in the same year, having already lost a war in North Vietnam.

Cambodia's 'First Kingdom', as it would be called, was a constitutional monarchy, with the king a relatively authoritarian figure who often faced a demanding national assembly. Eventually he abdicated in favour of his father to became the country's prime minister, still in an authoritarian fashion in a troubled period. The last years of the kingdom were dominated by the military dictatorship of Lieutenant General Lon Nol.

He overthrew the monarchy in 1970 to establish the 'Khmer Republic' or 'First Republic'. This pro-American republic gave way in 1975/1976 to 'Democratic Kampuchea' or the 'Second Republic' under the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge regime and its leader, Pol Pot.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler, John De Cleene, & Ben Lawne, with additional information from the John De Cleene Archive, from Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopaedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Keat Gin Ooi (ABC-Clio, 2004), from Early Mainland Southeast Asia, C Higham (River Books Co, 2014), from Encyclopaedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations, Charles F W Higham (Facts on File, 2004), from The Khmer Empire (National Geographic (Supplement), July 2009), from Historical Atlas of the World, R R Palmer (Ed, Rand McNally & Company, 1963), from the two-part BBC documentary series, Jungle Atlantis (first screened on 25 September 2014), from The Birth of Vietnam, Keith Weller Taylor (University of California Press, 1983), from Times Atlas of World History, Geoffrey Barraclough (Ed, Maplewood, New Jersey, 1979), and from External Links: Cambodia (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Cambodia (Rulers.org), and Cambodia (World Statesmen), and Cambodia's King Trasak Paem a fictional monarch (Khmer Times), and Siamese Attacks on Angkor Before 1430, Lawrence Palmer Briggs (The Far Eastern Quarterly, Duke University Press, 1948, available via JSTOR).)

1970

Lon Nol stages a coup which overthrows Prince Sihanouk, who has been visiting Moscow. The Communist 'Khmer Rouge' begin a civil war against Lon Nol's 'Khmer Republic' government. Sihanouk accepts exile in Beijing and is succeeded as head of state by Cheng Heng, while Lon Nol continues as the country's effective ruler during Cheng Heng's two-year term of office.

Former school teacher Saloth Sar fled to the jungle in 1963 to rebrand himself as Pol Pot and eventually lead the communist 'Khmer Rouge' to power

1970 - 1975

Dictator. Pro-American ruler. Fled country. Died 1985.

1970 - 1972

Head of state under Lon Nol.

1970

Supported by the US forces in South Vietnam, Cambodia quickly becomes mired in a civil war against the Khmer Rouge guerrilla forces. US and South Vietnamese forces attack eastern Cambodia, but the North Vietnamese communist forces have already withdrawn to the west.

Cambodia gets dragged into the Vietnam War and even attacks Vietnamese forces, which are far superior and are able to force the Cambodians to assume a defensive posture.

1970 - 1975

Head of state in rebellion. Former 'First Kingdom' ruler.

1975

Lon Nol's fracturing government mirrors the state of the country as a whole, as the Khmer Rouge gain control of the capital. Pol Pot takes control of the government during a chaotic period (one which is well displayed in The Killing Fields film of 1984). Sihanouk is briefly installed as nominal head of state until 1976, when he is placed under virtual house arrest.

Lon Nol fled Phnom Penh on 13 April 1975 along with his associates in thirty-six helicopters, with the staff of the US embassy following suit, leaving Cambodia to the victorious Khmer Rouge

1975 - 1979

Dictator. Khmer Rouge 'Second Republic'. Overthrown.

1975 - 1976

Nominal head of state. Removed.

1976

'Democratic Kampuchea' or the 'Second Republic' is proclaimed by the victorious Khmer Rouge. In fact the republic quickly turns into a communist dictatorship under the Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. He and his forces become responsible for the notorious 'killing fields' and for returning the country to 'Year One'.

The population is driven from the cities and is subjected to violent totalitarian rule in the countryside, while all technological advancements are banned on pain of death (although senior figures continue to enjoy many of the better trappings of life).

1978

Following several border incursions and attacks on Vietnamese villages by the Khmer Rouge rulers of Cambodia, Vietnamese troops invade and conquer much of the country. The Khmer Rouge are pushed back from the country's heartland and have to resume a guerrilla warfare approach to maintaining what positions they do retain.

Skulls of Khmer Rouge 'killing fields' victims on display at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (a former execution site), near Phnom Penh in Cambodia

1979

The Vietnamese puppet state is proclaimed as the 'People's Republic of Kampuchea' or 'Third Republic'. This is a much less virulent form of communist government. Still, its rule is not internationally recognised and later faces mounting guerrilla resistance. Vietnamese dominance in Cambodia lasts until 1991, although the last Vietnamese troops are withdrawn in 1989.

1979 - 1985

Vietnamese-installed communist party leader.

1979 - 1985

Commanded Khmer Rouge from the west & Thailand.

1979 - 1989

Cambodia under Vietnamese rule attempts to regain a degree of sanity. Private property is restored, people are returned to the cities, and a degree of Buddhism is allowed. But large numbers, especially intellectuals, flee to other countries or join rebellions against the Vietnamese.

Farmers still worked their paddy fields even when they were under electricity pylons on the outskirts of Hanoi while the country gradually transitioned towards a fossil fuel-free infrastructure

1982

Khmer Rouge and rebel forces in the western provinces and Thailand reorganise into the 'Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea'. This includes a separate far right anti-communist group, and also Norodom Sihanouk's royalists which had broken away from the Khmer Rouge in 1981. This government in exile has UN recognition as Cambodia's legitimate government.

1982 - 1993

Royalist head in the west & Thailand.

1985 - 1993

Khmer Rouge commander in succession to Pol Pot.

1985 - 1989

Prime minister and dictator.

1989

A new republic is formed, made possible by an American-led economic boycott of Cambodia and the reduction of Soviet aid to Vietnam. Vietnamese forces are withdrawn. Hun Sen remains the country's effective ruler, now as the 'State of Cambodia' or 'Fourth Republic'.

After coming to power following the fall of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime, Hun Sen's rule became increasingly authoritarian, with him consolidating power through control of the military, police, and moneyed interests

1989 - 1993

Remained prime minister and dictator. Joined new Cambodia.

1991 - 1993

A peace agreement is signed in Paris in 1991, ushering in a power-sharing administration. An interim government is created which is headed by Prince Norodom II Sihanouk as head of state. This is supported by a United Nations mission. Nevertheless, Hun Sen remains in control of most of the country from Phnom Penh.

While the UN-sponsored government is partially thwarted by the Khmer Rouge's continued rebellion and by Hun Sen's government, a few advances are made. Some three hundred thousand refugees are repatriated from Thailand. The first democratic elections are held, although Hun Sen refuses to recognise the results.

In a new compromise in 1993 (which the Khmer Rouge ignore), the kingdom is restored as the 'Second Kingdom' with Sihanouk as king and his son, Ranariddh, as its first prime minister. Hun Sen is drawn into the new state as its second prime minister.

Despite sometimes hardline tactics used in maintaining his hold on power, Hun Sen (centre, in green, shown during a visit to paddy fields) did a good job of cultivating a populist image which saw him making a huge number of site visits and attending ceremonies and special occasions of all types