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Chapters (28)
  1. Title Page
  2. Preface
  3. Acknowledgements
  4. CHAPTER ONE - Introduction
  5. Who Was Pol Pot?
  6. The First Year in Paris
  7. Joining the Viet Minh
  8. CHAPTER FIVE - “Red Khmer,” 1963—1970
  9. CHAPTER SIX - Coming to Power, 1970—1976
  10. CHAPTER SEVEN - Prairie Fire, 1976-1977
  11. Pol Pot in China and North Korea
  12. CHAPTER NINE - “Grandfather 87,” 1979—1998
  13. Chronology
  14. Appendix 1: - Non Suon’s Biography of Pol Pot
  15. Appendix 2: - Khmer Personnel at “Office 100,” 1963—1966
  16. Notes
  17. Chapter One
  18. Chapter Two
  19. Chapter Three
  20. Chapter Four
  21. Chapter Five
  22. Chapter Six
  23. Chapter Seven
  24. Chapter Eight
  25. Chapter Nine
  26. Interviews by Author
  27. Index
  28. Copyright Page
1925 Saloth Sar born in village of Prek Sbauv, Kompong Thom province, French Protectorate of Cambodia.
1927 King Sisowath Monivong crowned king of Cambodia.
1930 Indochina Communist party (ICP) founded in Hong Kong. Until 1950s, membership almost entirely Vietnamese.
1937 Khmer-language newspaper Nagara Vatta (Angkor Wat) founded in Phnom Penh.
Saloth Sar enrolls in Ecole Miche, a private primary school in a Phnom Penh.
1940 France defeated by Germany. New, neutral government takes office in Vichy.
1941 Franco-Thai War. Thai assume control of two Cambodian provinces. Cambodian king, Sisowath Monivong, dies. Saloth Sar’s sister, Saroeun, one of the king’s concubines, is at his deathbed. Monivong’s nineteen-year-old grandson, Norodom Sihanouk, chosen by French, replaces him.
Japanese troops take up positions in much of Indochina. French re tain administrative control.
1942 Anti-French demonstration in Phnom Penh. Instigators miscalculate Japanese support and are arrested by French. Saloth Sar enrolls as a boarder in College Sihanouk in Kompong Cham.
1945 French administrators are imprisoned throughout Indochina and Japanese encourage local rulers to declare independence. King Si hanouk does so. In May exiled nationalist leader Son Ngoc Thanh returns to Cambodia and becomes foreign minister.
After coup in Thanh’s favor on eve of Japanese surrender, Thanh acts as prime minister before French return to Cambodia in force and arrest him.
After spearheading independence movement in Vietnam, ICP osten sibly dissolves in interests of fostering united front. Party in fact remains clandestinely in existence.
1946 French permit Cambodians to draft a constitution and form political parties. One of these, the Democrats, attracts wide support.
In northern Vietnam, fighting breaks out between French troops and
Vietnamese forces led by clandestine ICP under Ho Chi Minh.
First Indochina War begins.
1947 Saloth Sar graduates from College Sihanouk. In Phnom Penh he meets Ieng Sary; the two work as volunteers in Democrats’ elec tion campaign.
1948 Sar fails entrance examination to Lycée Sisowath and enrolls in Ecole Technique in Phnom Penh.
1949 Sar awarded scholarship to study radio-electricity in France; he reaches Paris in September. Communist regime takes power in China.
1950 Korean war breaks out.
From Paris Sar spends a month as a volunteer worker in Yugoslavia.
Ieng Sary arrives in Paris and introduces Sar to leading Khmer intel lectual, Keng Vannsak.
1951 Supposedly “national” Communist parties are founded in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Inspired by Vietnamese, who prepare statutes for them, these parties, whose existence is kept secret from out siders, back up Vietnamese war of national liberation.
In Paris Sar moves to apartment in rue Letellier and begins attending Marxist discussions convened by Keng Vannsak. Others in group include Ieng Sary, Mey Mann, Thiounn Mumm, Son Sen, Rath Samoeun, and Hou Youn.
In August several Khmer Marxists in France (but not Saloth Sar) at tend Communist-sponsored youth festival in Berlin and learn about Khmer People’s Revolutionary party (KPRP).
1952 Sihanouk, supported by French, dissolves Democrat-dominated Na tional Assembly in Phnom Penh. Move angers radical students in France. Writing as “Original Khmer,” Saloth Sar publishes an arti cle attacking royalty in Cambodia.
Sihanouk launches Royal Crusade for Independence, stealing initia tive from Democrats in Cambodia.
Sar’s scholarship is withdrawn for academic reasons. He lingers in Paris for several months and volunteers to seek information in Cambodia about Communist-led resistance there. In this period he joins the French Communist party.
1953 Sar returns to Phnom Penh. After several months testing Thanhist and other noncommunist alternatives, he joins a Vietnamese Khmer unit on the Vietnamese border and becomes a member of the ICP. He meets his future mentor, Cambodian cadre Tou Samouth.
French grant independence to Cambodia but retain command over French troops still in country.
1954 Geneva Conference imposes political settlement of First Indochina War. For Cambodia, provisions include national elections within a year. Over 1,000 Communist-affiliated Khmer guerrillas are evac uated to newly established Communist state in northern Vietnam.
Saloth Sar returns to Phnom Penh, goes into hiding using a pseudo nym, and works to support radical candidates in Cambodian elec tions.
1955 Sihanouk abdicates the throne and forms political movement aimed at dissolving political parties. Democrats, who had hoped to win elections, thrown into disarray.
In rigged elections, Sihanouk’s Sangkum movement sweeps all seats. Democrats and Communist-front party, Pracheachon, draw over 100,000 votes. Saloth Sar works for these two parties, from con cealment.
1956 Saloth Sar takes up career teaching at private college in Phnom Penh; marries Khieu Ponnary, a teacher at the Lycée Sisowath; works secretly as a Communist militant alongside Tou Samouth, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, and a handful of others. During this pe riod, Communists in Cambodia operate as members of an un named party.
1959 Ostensible leader of clandestine party, Sieu Heng, defects to the gov ernment, abandons radicalism.
1960 Probably under orders from Vietnam, twenty-one Khmer radicals meet secretly for three days in Phnom Penh to form the Workers’ party of Kampuchea (WPK); newly formed Central Committee includes Tou Samouth (secretary), Nuon Chea, Saloth Sar, and Ieng Sary, among others.
Sihanouk’s father, Suramarit, named king in 1955, dies; Sihanouk be comes chief of state.
National Liberation Front (NLF) founded in South Vietnam as po litical arm of struggle aimed at dislodging pro-American South Vietnamese regime.
1962 Tou Samouth disappears, presumably killed by Sihanouk’s police; several members of Pracheachon imprisoned; Saloth Sar becomes acting secretary of Central Committee, bypassing more senior candidate, Nuon Chea.
1963 When their names appear on a list of supposed “Reds” published by Sihanouk’s government, Saloth Sar, Ieng Sary, and Son Sen—all members of WPK Central Committee—flee to eastern Cambodia. Nuon Chea, not named by Sihanouk, stays behind in capital. Be fore leaving Phnom Penh, Sar is named secretary of WPK Central Committee.
South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem is overthrown and as sassinated; U.S. president John F. Kennedy is assassinated three weeks later.
Sihanouk ends U.S. military aid program and seeks rapprochement with Vietnamese Communists and “neutral” solution to Second Indochina War, which had broken out in 1960.
1964 Saloth Sar spends year in “Office 100,” a Vietnamese-controlled base located sometimes inside Cambodia, sometimes over the border in Vietnam.
1965 As Vietnam War intensifies, Saloth Sar and a WPK delegation visit Hanoi, where Sar presents WPK’s political program to his Viet namese counterparts. The text is sharply criticized by the Viet namese for its failure to stress international factors.
U.S. combat troops begin landing in Vietnam.
Sihanouk makes secret agreement with Vietnamese Communists, al lowing them to station troops in Cambodia in lightly populated areas in east.
1966 Cultural Revolution inaugurated by Mao Zedong in China.
Saloth Sar embarks from Hanoi on a visit to China. After his rough treatment in Vietnam, he is comparatively warmly received and befriended by the former head of Mao’s secret police, K‘ang Sheng.
Sar returns to Cambodia via Hanoi, secretly changes name of WPK to Communist party of Kampuchea (CPK). Office 100 shifts to re mote northeastern province of Ratanakiri.
For first time since 1955, National Assembly elected from slate of candidates not handpicked by Sihanouk; assembly names Lon Nol as prime minister; Sihanouk is enraged.
1967 Peasant uprising against Sihanouk regime breaks out at Samlaut in northwest and is savagely repressed. In the aftermath of the re pression, CPK decides to inaugurate a policy mixing armed and political struggle. Throughout the year, Sihanouk continues re pression of local Communists.
1968 On the eve of the Vietnamese Communist Tet offensive in Vietnam, CPK unit overruns government post in Battambang and captures several weapons. Incident later celebrated as inaugurating armed struggle.
1969 Fearing further Communist inroads, Sihanouk renews diplomatic re lations with the United States. Fighting between his army units and CPK guerrillas continues in the northeast.
Toward end of year, Saloth Sar visits Hanoi for consultations; he is away from Cambodia for six months.
1970 Sihanouk voted out of office by the National Assembly while he is visiting the USSR. Prince proceeds to Beijing, where he pledges to fight on. Vietnamese prime minister, Pham Van Dong, accompa nied by Saloth Sar, flies in to offer support. Prince agrees to form a United Front government in exile to overthrow the pro-American regime established by Lon Nol.
U.S. and South Vietnamese forces briefly invade eastern Cambodia. Vietnamese Communist forces retreat to the west. CPK guerrillas, claiming they are loyal to Sihanouk, gain thousands of supporters.
Saloth Sar returns from Vietnam and sets up his headquarters in rural Kompong Thom.
Lon Nol declares that Cambodia has become a republic. His forces are beaten in several engagements with the Vietnamese.
1971 Trained by Vietnamese and by Cambodian cadre brought from northern Vietnam, CPK forces gain combat experience. Lon Nol offensive (Chenla II) is smashed toward end of year.
1972 At Paris peace talks between U.S. and Vietnam, Vietnamese agree to a cease-fire. They also plan to withdraw their forces from Cambo dia. News alarms CPK leadership, who refuse to honor a cease-fire and become resentful at being abandoned by the Vietnamese.
1973 U.S. bombers drop tens of thousands of tons of bombs on CPK posi tions, stall CPK offensive on Phnom Penh, inflict thousands of civilian casualties, and force tens of thousands into cities. Bombing stops in August under pressure from U.S. Congress.
During bombing, Sihanouk visits northern Cambodia and Angkor Wat and is hypocritically welcomed by CPK leaders, who have no intention of allowing him any political power. Socialist measures, including collectivization of agriculture, adopted in some areas un der CPK control.
1974 As Lon Nol regime approaches collapse, CPK “storming attack” on Phnom Penh is beaten back.
1975 CPK offensive begins January 1. Floating mines in Mekong stop river traffic bringing rice and ammunition to Phnom Penh.
In March, Lon Nol flies into exile. U.S. Embassy evacuates its per sonnel.
April 17, CPK forces occupy Phnom Penh and Battambang. Inhabi tants of all cities ordered into countryside to take up agricultural work.
Saigon falls to Vietnamese Communists three weeks later.
When city is empty, Saloth Sar returns—after twelve-year absence.
“Revolutionary Organization” takes power in Cambodia. Radical measures (abolition of money, markets, private property; closing of monasteries and schools) take effect at once.
In secret discussions with Vietnamese, Cambodians refuse to negoti ate their frontier, fearful that Vietnamese will adjust sea frontiers to profit from known petroleum deposits offshore.
1976 Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea (DK) proclaimed. Prime minister, announced in April, is a “rubber plantation worker” called Pol Pot. Sihanouk resigns as chief of state and spends next two-and-a-half years under house arrest in Phnom Penh.
DK national security police open their interrogation and torture fa cility in the Phnom Penh suburb of Tuol Sleng.
Four Year Plan introduced to CPK cadre.
Mao Zedong dies in China. At memorial ceremony, Pol Pot admits for first time that Democratic Kampuchea follows Marxist-Lenin- ist ideology. CPK’s existence still concealed.
Pleading ill health, Pol Pot “resigns” as prime minister and is replaced temporarily by Nuon Chea. Almost immediately, purges begin against veteran members of CPK thought to be pro-Vietnamese.
1977 Hostilities, probably instigated by Democratic Kampuchea, break out along frontier between DK and Vietnamese forces.
CPK purges in first half of the year wipe out most intellectuals in the party, who are accused of CIA affiliations.
Just before state visit to Beijing, Pol Pot reveals existence of CPK in long speech setting out its history; speech says nothing about purges in party or about hostilities with Vietnam.
Photographs of Pol Pot in China and biographical information he provides allow Cambodia watchers to identify him as Saloth Sar.
Pol Pot feted in China as ally against “revisionist” (pro-Soviet) Viet namese. China promises military aid. Meanwhile, fighting between Vietnamese and DK forces intensifies.
Vietnamese army invades and occupies much of eastern Cambodia for two months.
On December 31, Democratic Kampuchea breaks off diplomatic re lations with Vietnam.
1978 Purges expand to include cadre in eastern zone, where much of fight ing with Vietnam occurred. Hostilities continue.
Democratic Kampuchea struggles to “open up,” welcoming some state visitors and sympathetic journalists. On several occasions, Pol Pot allows himself to be interviewed.
In December, Vietnamese launch major offensive.
1979 Pol Pot sends Sihanouk to the United Nations to argue DK case.
Phnom Penh falls to Vietnamese. Pol Pot escapes to northwest. Viet namese forces occupy most of country following blitzkrieg attack.
Chinese and Thai agree to support Democratic Kampuchea. Thou sands of DK soldiers find shelter along Thai border.
People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK), a regime set in place by Vietnam, stages trial of Pol Pot and Ieng Sary and condemns them to death.
In December, before resigning as prime minister, Pol Pot gives his last public interview.
1981 CPK Central Committee announces party’s dissolution, but none of its top members resign and party’s infrastructure, especially in army, remains in place. Significantly, Pol Pot retains military posts, as in 1970-1975.
1982 Coalition government of Democratic Kampuchea formed, consisting of anticommunist factions, Sihanouk, and Democratic Kam puchea. Coalition retains DK seat at United Nations and accepts military aid from China and some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) powers.
1983-1987 Vietnamese forces control military balance of power. Pol Pot, based in Thailand, occasionally seeks medical treatment in China.
1985 On the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, Pol Pot “resigns” from all his positions. In fact, he remains powerful as the secretary of the CPK and as a teacher.
Pol Pot remarries (date uncertain) and his second wife, of peasant background, bears him a daughter.
1988 Vietnamese withdraw forces from Cambodia. Negotiations for politi cal settlement gather momentum.
1991 A comprehensive settlement, signed in Paris, provides for interim government in Cambodia under United Nations supervision. In negotiations in Thailand leading up to Paris meeting, DK delega tion seeks Pol Pot’s advice by telephone on several occasions be fore agreeing to concessions. When DK representatives Son Sen and Khieu Samphan return briefly to Phnom Penh, Sen reports secretly to “87” (Pol Pot) about conditions there but claims in public that Pol Pot has ”ceased all his duties.“
1992 DK faction refuses UN request that it disarm, ceases cooperating with UN Transitional Authority. Son Sen demoted. DK spokes men claim that government in Phnom Penh is still controlled by Vietnamese.
1993 DK faction boycotts national elections, which are won by royalist party (FUNCINPEC). Results contested by CPP, Hun Sen’s party, and compromise is reached whereby Cambodia is governed by a CPP-FUNCINPEC dyarchy, presided over by two prime minis ters.
1994 CPK introduces harsh policies in zones under its control, aiming to reignite revolutionary fervor. Policies backfire as thousands of sup porters defect.
1997 Ieng Sary defects to the Hun Sen government in Phnom Penh.
Two months later, Hun Sen stages a coup d’état against FUNCIN PEC. Soon afterwards, Son Sen and several members of his family are murdered under Pol Pot’s orders.
Pol Pot is purged by rivals in the CPK hierarchy and put on trial for treason in a Khmer Rouge encampment. Trial is filmed by U.S. journalist Nate Thayer, who interviews Pol Pot in October.
1998 Pol Pot dies on April 16 of heart failure and assorted ailments in Khmer Rouge encampment on the Thai-Cambodia border