Pol Pot Biography

Birth of Pol Pot, son of a peasant family

Appointed Member of Kampuchean Communist Party

After the Soviet Union recognized the Viet Minh as the Government of Vietnam in 1950, French Communists (PCF) took up the cause of Vietnams independence

After the Soviet Union recognized the Viet Minh as the Government of Vietnam in 1950, French Communists (PCF) took up the cause of Vietnams independence

Joins a communist cell in a secret organisation known as the Cercle Marxiste which had taken control of the Khmer Students Association (AER) that same year

Founded when the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) was divided into separate Kampuchean, Lao, and Vietnamese communist parties.

Joins a communist cell in a secret organisation known as the Cercle Marxiste which had taken control of the Khmer Students Association (AER) that same year.

Pol Pot helps tranform the Khmer Students Association (KSA), to which most of the 200 or so Khmer students in Paris belonged, into an organisation for nationalist and leftist ideas.

Joins a communist cell in a secret organisation known as the Cercle Marxiste which had taken control of the Khmer Students Association (AER) that same year

Pol Pot helps tranform the Khmer Students Association (KSA), to which most of the 200 or so Khmer students in Paris belonged, into an organisation for nationalist and leftist ideas

Pol Pot, Hou Yuon, Ieng Sary, and other leftists gained notoriety by sending an open letter to Sihanouk calling him the "strangler of infant democracy"

After Kampuchean independence following the 1954 Geneva Conference, right and left wing parties struggled against each other for power in the new Government

After Kampuchean independence following the 1954 Geneva Conference, right and left wing parties struggled against each other for power in the new Government

The KCP wins about 4% of the electoral vote but does not secure a seat in the legislature

Government attacks prevent the KCP from participating in the 1962 election and drove it underground

When Ton Samouth was murdered, Pol Pot becomes the acting leader of the communist party. Government attacks prevent the KCP from participating in the 1962 election and drove it underground

Founds the guerrilla movement, Khmer Rouge

When Ton Samouth was murdered, Pol Pot becomes the acting leader of the communist party

Appointed Party Leader of the Kampuchean Communist Party

At the WPKs second congress, Pol Pot is chosen to succeed Tou Samouth as the party's general secretary

Pol Pot and most of the central committee left Phnom Penh to establish an insurgent base in Ratanakiri Province. At the WPKs second congress, Pol Pot is chosen to succeed Tou Samouth as the party's general secretary

Tous allies, Nuon Chea and Keo Meas, are removed from the Central Committee and replaced by Son Sen and Vorn Vet. Pol Pot and loyal comrades from his Paris student days control the party centre, edging out older veterans whom they considered excessively proese. At the WPKs second congress, Pol Pot is chosen to succeed Tou Samouth as the party's general secretary

Pol Pot and most of the central committee left Phnom Penh to establish an insurgent base in Ratanakiri Province

Pol Pot and most of the central committee leave Phnom Penh to establish an insurgent base in Ratanakiri Province in the northeast

Convinces the Vietnamese to help the Kampuchean Communists set up their own base camp, the central committee of the party met later that year and issued a declaration calling for armed struggle.

The Party declaration also emphasized the idea of "self-reliance" in the sense of extreme Kampuchean nationalism, in the border camps, the ideology of the Khmer Rouge was gradually developed.

The party, breaking with Marxism, declared rural peasant farmers to be the true working class proletarian and the lifeblood of the revolution.

The Party declaration also emphasized the idea of "self-reliance" in the sense of extreme Kampuchean nationalism, in the border camps, the ideology of the Khmer Rouge was gradually developed. The party, breaking with Marxism, declared rural peasant farmers to be the true working class proletarian and the lifeblood of the revolution

Goes to North Vietnam to gain approval for an uprising in Kampuchea against the Government. North Vietnam refused to support any uprising because of agreements being negotiated with the Kampuchean Government. After another wave of repression by Sihanouk in 1965, the Khmer Rouge movement under Saloth grew at a rapid rate, many teachers and students left the cities for the countryside to join the movement

Goes to North Vietnam to gain approval for an uprising in Kampuchea against the Government. North Vietnam refused to support any uprising because of agreements being negotiated with the Kampuchean Government. After another wave of repression by Sihanouk in 1965, the Khmer Rouge movement under Saloth grew at a rapid rate, many teachers and students left the cities for the countryside to join the movement

The region Pol Pot and others move to is inhabited by tribal minorities, the Khmer Loeu, whose rough treatment (including resettlement and forced assimilation) at the hands of the central Government made them willing recruits for a guerrilla struggle

The party changes its name to the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK)

The party changes its name to the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK)

Several small-scale attempts at insurgency are made by the CPK but they have little success

The Khmer Rouge launches a national insurgency across Kampuchea

The Khmer Rouge launches a national insurgency across Kampuchea

Khmer Rouge forces launch a national insurgency across Kampuchea. As the insurgency grows stronger, the party finally openly declares itself to be the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK)

The political appeal of the Khmer Rouge was increased as a result of the situation created by the removal of Sihanouk as head of state in 1970. Sihanouk, in exile in Beijing, makes an alliance with the Kampuchean Communist Party and becomes the nominal head of a Khmer Rouge-dominated Government-in-exile

The political appeal of the Khmer Rouge was increased as a result of the situation created by the removal of Sihanouk as head of state in 1970

Many people in Kampuchea who helped the Khmer Rouge against the Lon Nol Government thought they were fighting for the restoration of Sihanouk.

Sihanouks popular support in rural Kampuchea allows the Khmer Rouge to extend its power and influence to the point that by 1973 it exercises de facto control over the majority of Kampuchean territory, although only a minority of its population.

When the US Congress suspends aid to Kampuchea in 1973, the Khmer Rouge makes sweeping gains in the country.

Founds the Angkar to act as enforcer & executioner for the new regime

Establishes the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea

Successfully leads a coup in Kampuchea

Appointed Prime Minister of Kampuchea

All foreigners are expelled from Kampuchea

Appointed Secretary of the Khmer Rouge

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh, beginning Democratic Kampuchea

The Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh

Forced evacuation of Phnom Penh population to rural zones

Khmer Rouge abolish money, markets, and private property

Democratic Kampuchea declared under Angkar leadership

Collectivization and forced labor begin nationwide

Democratic Kampuchea constitution adopted

Pol Pot formally becomes Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea

Purges begin within party ranks targeting internal enemies

Breaks off diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Breaks off diplomatic relations with Hanoi

Khmer Rouge launch attacks on Vietnamese border villages

Widespread purges of cadres accused of disloyalty

Tuol Sleng S-21 prison expands interrogation operations

Regime cuts most foreign ties except China

Diplomatic relations breakdown between Kampuchea & Vietnam

Khmer Rouge intensify anti-Vietnam propaganda

Mass purge of Eastern Zone cadres

Because of several years of border conflict and the flood of refugees fleeing Kampuchea, relations between Kampuchea and Vietnam collapse

Pol Pot, fearing a Vietnamese attack, orders a pre-emptive invasion of Vietnam. Despite American and Chinese aid, these Kampuchean forces were repulsed by the Vietnamese

Vietnam invades Cambodia to remove Khmer Rouge rule

The Vietnamese forced out Pol Pot & withdrew from Kampuchea 10 yrs later

The Vietnamese forced out Pol Pot & withdrew from Kampuchea 10 yrs later

Begins guerrilla warfare against the PRK Government

Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government

The CPK led by Pol Pot withdrew its forces westwards, to an area near the Thai border, with unofficial protection from elements of the Thai Army

The CPK is divided into two, with the Pen Sovan-led group constituting a separate party

Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government

Charged with genocide by the Vietnamese, 3 million out of a 7 million population

Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government

The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh. The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh falls and Khmer Rouge flee to border regions

The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh

The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh

Khmer Rouge reorganize as part of anti-Vietnam resistance networks

Pol Pot takes the United Nations seat as the legitimate representitive of Kampuchea

Anti-Vietnam Cambodian representatives retain international recognition after the fall of Phnom Penh

Vietnam invades Kampuchea

Begin guerrilla operations along the Thai border

Communist Party of Kampuchea renamed Party of Democratic Kampuchea

Khmer Rouge join FUNCINPEC and KPNLF in the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea

Clashes with Vietnamese forces intensify

Vietnam launches major dry-season offensive against border bases

Ta Mok gains greater control over remaining Khmer Rouge forces

Key border bases lost to Vietnamese operations

Initial informal talks between Cambodian factions begin

Khmer Rouge announce a greater focus on political struggle

Vietnam completes troop withdrawal from Cambodia

Khmer Rouge participate in UN-sponsored peace talks

Khmer Rouge refuse to fully comply with the Paris Peace Accords

UN peacekeepers deploy as Khmer Rouge obstruct operations

Khmer Rouge boycott national elections

Attacks on UN personnel increase

Cambodian government officially outlaws Khmer Rouge

Large-scale defections from Khmer Rouge ranks begin

Ieng Sary defects and receives amnesty

Remaining forces fragment into rival factions

Tried by the Khmer Rouge and placed under house arrest

Tried by the Khmer Rouge & placed under house arrest

Tried by the Khmer Rouge and placed under house arrest

Tried by the Khmer Rouge & placed under house arrest

Execution of Son Sen ordered by Pol Pot

Ta Mok ousts Pol Pot from leadership

Pol Pot arrested by the Ta Mok faction

Death of Pol Pot while held under house arrest by the Ta Mok faction of the Khmer Rouge

Death of Pol Pot, while held under house arrest by the Ta Mok faction of the Khmer Rouge

Death of Pol Pot

Khmer Rouge military structure collapses after Pol Pot death

Movement effectively ceases to exist after remaining leaders surrender

Final remnants surrender to Cambodian authorities after Pol Pot death

Government and international discussions continue over trials for senior leaders

Insurgency officially declared over

National discussions begin on Khmer Rouge legacy

Archives and evidence collection expand

Plans continue for a Khmer Rouge tribunal

Cambodia passes law establishing the framework for the ECCC

UN and Cambodia continue negotiations over tribunal support

United Nations and Cambodia sign agreement to establish the ECCC

UN-Cambodia agreement for the ECCC enters into force

ECCC judicial officials are sworn in and the tribunal begins operations

Public outreach and victim participation work expand around the tribunal

National review of the Khmer Rouge era expands