Cambodian History

Cambodia, a Southeast Asian nation, has a rich and complex history spanning millennia. Here's a brief overview:

The Khmer people are believed to have migrated to Southeast Asia from southern China, possibly Yunnan, around the same time as the Mon, who settled further west on the Indochinese Peninsula. Most archaeologists and linguists believe they arrived no later than 2000 BCE (over four thousand years ago).

The most prominent era in Cambodian history was the Angkor period, which lasted from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The Khmer Empire flourished during this time, building magnificent temples like Angkor Wat. Hinduism and Buddhism heavily influenced the Angkor period, which shaped the empire's culture, art, and architecture.

In the 19th century, Cambodia fell under French colonial rule. The French established a protectorate over the country, controlling its economy and politics.

During World War II, Cambodia was occupied by Japan. This invasion led to a resurgence of Cambodian nationalism and a desire for independence.

After World War II, Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953. Prince Norodom Sihanouk became the country's first leader.

In the late 1960s, a civil war broke out between the government forces and the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla movement led by Pol Pot. The Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975 and established a totalitarian regime. Their rule was marked by widespread atrocities, including forced labor, mass executions, and the destruction of Cambodia's cultural heritage.

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Cambodia faced a long period of reconstruction. The country struggled to recover from the devastation caused by the civil war and genocide. Cambodia has made significant progress in recent decades, with economic growth and improved political stability.

The United Nations Involvement

The United Nations played a crucial role in Cambodia's recovery after 1991. Following the Paris Peace Accords, which ended the Cambodian Civil War, Cambodia's United Nations Transitional Authority was established to oversee the country's transition to international laws and a market based economy.  

At this time, The UN initiated political and social reforms that included:

• A Parliamentary system

• Formal political parties

• Open elections

• Civil Rights amendments

• Free and Independent Press

• Private ownership of land

• An independent Judicial System

• An independent Banking system

• A reliable Postal Service

• A National Military

• An independent police force

• Diplomatic services

My information about the United Nations intervention is from Honorable Chan Huon, an attorney and judge who lived in Koh Kong, Cambodia, at the time.

The United Nations sent a message to the combatants in 1991: if you don't stop fighting and killing one another, we will stop sending aid.

Mr. Huon said it was an easy decision for the Khmer people to make, though it took many years to initiate and adopt these conditions.

The Khmer people of Cambodia are now living in an internationally savvy and prosperous country interested in being wholesome members of the world community.