The World

Asia/The East

History of Indochina Indochina= Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia French ruled from late 1800’s-WWII French colonists built plantations to extract rice and rubber Unrest grows among peasants Ho Chi Minh leads rebellious activities. Fled to Soviet Union

Japanese Invasion Japan invades Hong Kong, French Indochina, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, China, and the Philippines. French withdraw Ho Chi Minh (with U.S. aid) leads resistance against Japanese Japanese defeated in 1945

Independence: Communism vs. Democracy Vietminh: Organization created by Ho Chi Minh to liberate Vietnam of foreign rule. Sept. 2, 1945: Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent. French reoccupy southern Vietnam late 1945 U.S. gives French $1 billion in aid to defeat Ho Chi Minh, a one-time ally. French surrender after defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

U.S. Involvement Deepens To halt spread of communism, U.S. provides economic and military aid to S. Vietnam. Corrupt S. Vietnamese government leads to rise of Vietcong and increased instability. U.S. commits 50,000 troops to Vietnam in N. Vietnam capture Saigon on 4/30/75.

Cambodia and Laos during Vietnam War Both attempted to remain neutral N. Vietnamese and Vietcong forces used Cambodia as a base to attack S. Vietnam. N. Vietnamese forces use Ho Chi Minh trail through Laos to supply Viet Cong forces. Laos sustains 10 years of heavy bombing from U.S. forces attempting to destroy Ho Chi Minh trail. U.S. secretly bombs N. Vietnamese and Viet Cong strong holds in Cambodia. In 1970, Pres. Nixon orders ground forces to invade Cambodia.

Communist Growth Communist insurgents grow inside Cambodia and Laos. Khmer Rouge=Combodian communists backed by N. Vietnamese. Phatet Lao= Laotian communists backed by N. Vietnamese. Khmer Rouge overrun existing army and gain control of Cambodia. Phatet Lao gain control of government with N. Vietnamese help in 1975.

The Aftermath Re-education camps are created by KR and PL in Cambodia and Laos. An estimated 2-3 million Cambodians died under KR gov’t. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978 and established a new gov’t. 600,000 Cambodians fled to Thailand.

The Reign of the Khmer Rouge ( ) A. Motto: “To keep you is no benefit; to destroy you is no loss.” B. Re-education camps: used to teach communist beliefs/brain wash; also exposed people who might resist. C. Commit acts of genocide; millions of Cambodians are executed. D. January 7, 1979: Vietnam seizes control of Cambodia, allowing thousands to flee. E : Vietnamese troops promise to withdraw.

To Destroy You is No Loss A. A novel which chronicles Teeda Butt Mam’s family’s “nightmarish ordeal at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.” It details the family’s struggle to survive, facing re- education camps and the perilous journey from Cambodia, to Thailand, and eventually, to America.

The Killing Fields A. A film based on the events which led up to and follow the fall of Phnom Penh. The film’s plot revolves around two characters, Sidney Shanberg and Dith Pran. B. Sidney Shanberg: A reporter for the New York Times who is investigating U.S. involvement in “The Secret War.” While attempting to get into Thailand, he learns of a U.S. bombing of a Cambodian city. He decides to enter Cambodia to investigate. Dith Pran: A Cambodian photographer and reporter