Dara Duong| Cambodia
Get to know Cambodia/Kampuchea/Khmer
Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia
Cambodian Flag
Early History
At the height of it reach and power between the 9th and 13th centuries, the predecessor of modern Cambodia, the empire of Angkor, was a strong and culturally advanced civilization. At various times, it controlled territory from Burmese border to the Mekong Delta, and south to the South China Sea. But the second quarter of the 15th century the empire was declining and was attacked on either side by Thailand and Vietnamese.
1863
Again under pressure from its neighbors, Cambodia requests French protection to stave off national extinction, and French transform Cambodia in to protectorate. By end of 19th century, Cambodia is incorporated with Laos and devided Vietnam into Indochinese union under French rule.
1941
The French installed Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the 18 years old, as a King of Cambodia.
At the height of it reach and power between the 9th and 13th centuries, the predecessor of modern Cambodia, the empire of Angkor, was a strong and culturally advanced civilization. At various times, it controlled territory from Burmese border to the Mekong Delta, and south to the South China Sea. But the second quarter of the 15th century the empire was declining and was attacked on either side by Thailand and Vietnamese.
1863
Again under pressure from its neighbors, Cambodia requests French protection to stave off national extinction, and French transform Cambodia in to protectorate. By end of 19th century, Cambodia is incorporated with Laos and devided Vietnam into Indochinese union under French rule.
1941
The French installed Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the 18 years old, as a King of Cambodia.
WORLD WAR II
Japanese forces entered Cambodia in 1941. Japan permits Vichy France to continue administering the country until late in the war, when it dissolves the French colonial administration. In response, King Sihanouk declares independence in March 1945. An anti-colonial government is formed, but allied occupation forces depose it in October.
1946
After the war, France grants increased autonomy to Cambodia, but nationalists, led by King Sihanouk, demand full independence.
1953
November: France grants independence to Cambodia. At the Geneva Conference of 1954, Cambodia like Vietnam and Laos, is declared a neutral state.
1963
November: Prince Sihanouk severs economic and military relations with the United States, citing the increasing American forces of carrying out border incursions into Cambodia.
LATE 1960'S
Important groups grow restive under Sihanouk's rule. Military officers resent his policy of permitting North Vietnamese armed activity in the border area, business people oppose his refusal to accept American economic aid, and urban intellectuals criticize his political dominance.
1970
March: While Prince Sihanouk is abroad, civilian and military officials overthrow his government and turn over power to Prime Minister Lon Nol, and American-backed general involved in a limited move to eclipse Prince Sihanouk the previous year. In October, the monarchy is abolished.
1975
April: Communist guerrillas of the Khmer Rouge seize the capital Phnom Penh, after a string of victories in provincial cities, and oust Lon Nol's government, Under the titular leadership of Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, and the underground control of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge impose a brutal reorganization of society in which more than a million people die. City dwellers are forced into harsh labor in the countryside, members of educated or merchant classes are put to death, and reign of terror coupled with an extreme form of agrarian Marxism prevails. Prince Sihanouk, the virtual prisoner of the Khmer Rouge, is declared the titular head of State.
Japanese forces entered Cambodia in 1941. Japan permits Vichy France to continue administering the country until late in the war, when it dissolves the French colonial administration. In response, King Sihanouk declares independence in March 1945. An anti-colonial government is formed, but allied occupation forces depose it in October.
1946
After the war, France grants increased autonomy to Cambodia, but nationalists, led by King Sihanouk, demand full independence.
1953
November: France grants independence to Cambodia. At the Geneva Conference of 1954, Cambodia like Vietnam and Laos, is declared a neutral state.
1963
November: Prince Sihanouk severs economic and military relations with the United States, citing the increasing American forces of carrying out border incursions into Cambodia.
LATE 1960'S
Important groups grow restive under Sihanouk's rule. Military officers resent his policy of permitting North Vietnamese armed activity in the border area, business people oppose his refusal to accept American economic aid, and urban intellectuals criticize his political dominance.
1970
March: While Prince Sihanouk is abroad, civilian and military officials overthrow his government and turn over power to Prime Minister Lon Nol, and American-backed general involved in a limited move to eclipse Prince Sihanouk the previous year. In October, the monarchy is abolished.
1975
April: Communist guerrillas of the Khmer Rouge seize the capital Phnom Penh, after a string of victories in provincial cities, and oust Lon Nol's government, Under the titular leadership of Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, and the underground control of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge impose a brutal reorganization of society in which more than a million people die. City dwellers are forced into harsh labor in the countryside, members of educated or merchant classes are put to death, and reign of terror coupled with an extreme form of agrarian Marxism prevails. Prince Sihanouk, the virtual prisoner of the Khmer Rouge, is declared the titular head of State.
1976
Prince Sihanouk resigns and goes to Bijing. Pol Pot emerges from the Khmer Rouge's underground leadership to become Prime Minister, taking full charge.
1978
December: After a year of incursions into Cambodian territory, the Vietnamese Army mounts a full invasion of the country. It consolidates its power and in January 1979 installs a new Government led by Heng Samrin.
1982
June: Under pressure from China, the United States and other countries, the three Cambodian guerrilla factions form a coalition government in exile with Prince Sihanouk as President, Khieu Samphan as vice president and Son Sann of the conservative Khmer People's Liberation Front as Prime Minister. Washington recognizes the rebel coalition.
1985
September: The Khmer Rouge announces the retirement of Pol Pot as military leader, but Western governments say he is still the real leader.
1987
May: Prince Sihanouk steps down for a year as head of the coalition after attacks on his men by the Khmer Rouge, and he pursues his own peace initiative.
December: Hun Sen, now Prime Minister in Phnom Penh, and Prince Sihanouk hold talks in France. This and four other rounds in the next 18 months proves inconclusive.
1988
February: Under Chinese pressure, Prince Sihanouk returns to lead the rebel coalition.
1989
April: Vietnamese announces that all its troops will leave Cambodia by the end of September, even if no settlement is reached.
August: Peace talks in Paris involving Cambodian factions collapse.
1991
May: A temporary cease-fire among the factions begins, but the Government in Phnom Penh and rebels accuse each other of violations.
June: The Supreme National Council agrees to an indefinite cease-fire. It also agrees to stop receiving foreign arms.
August: Meeting in Thailand, the Supreme National Council agrees to disband 70 percent of the military forces in Cambodia and put the rest under United Nations supervision.
September: In talks in New York, the Cambodian cl;ear a majore hurdle to peace pact by agreeing to a compromises system for elections. The compromise calls for a system of proportional representation that would allow each faction place Parliament based on its share of the population vote.
Oct.23: Leaders of Cambodia's warring factions and the Foreign Ministers of 18 nations sign a peace treaty ending decades of civil war.
Prince Sihanouk resigns and goes to Bijing. Pol Pot emerges from the Khmer Rouge's underground leadership to become Prime Minister, taking full charge.
1978
December: After a year of incursions into Cambodian territory, the Vietnamese Army mounts a full invasion of the country. It consolidates its power and in January 1979 installs a new Government led by Heng Samrin.
1982
June: Under pressure from China, the United States and other countries, the three Cambodian guerrilla factions form a coalition government in exile with Prince Sihanouk as President, Khieu Samphan as vice president and Son Sann of the conservative Khmer People's Liberation Front as Prime Minister. Washington recognizes the rebel coalition.
1985
September: The Khmer Rouge announces the retirement of Pol Pot as military leader, but Western governments say he is still the real leader.
1987
May: Prince Sihanouk steps down for a year as head of the coalition after attacks on his men by the Khmer Rouge, and he pursues his own peace initiative.
December: Hun Sen, now Prime Minister in Phnom Penh, and Prince Sihanouk hold talks in France. This and four other rounds in the next 18 months proves inconclusive.
1988
February: Under Chinese pressure, Prince Sihanouk returns to lead the rebel coalition.
1989
April: Vietnamese announces that all its troops will leave Cambodia by the end of September, even if no settlement is reached.
August: Peace talks in Paris involving Cambodian factions collapse.
1991
May: A temporary cease-fire among the factions begins, but the Government in Phnom Penh and rebels accuse each other of violations.
June: The Supreme National Council agrees to an indefinite cease-fire. It also agrees to stop receiving foreign arms.
August: Meeting in Thailand, the Supreme National Council agrees to disband 70 percent of the military forces in Cambodia and put the rest under United Nations supervision.
September: In talks in New York, the Cambodian cl;ear a majore hurdle to peace pact by agreeing to a compromises system for elections. The compromise calls for a system of proportional representation that would allow each faction place Parliament based on its share of the population vote.
Oct.23: Leaders of Cambodia's warring factions and the Foreign Ministers of 18 nations sign a peace treaty ending decades of civil war.
OCTOBER 23 1991
PARIS PEACE AGREEMENT ( CONFERENCE DE PARIS SURLE CAMBODGE)
The Peace Settlement
Main points of the agreement signed by representatives from the Cambodian Government, three guerrilla factions and 18 other nations.
PARIS PEACE AGREEMENT ( CONFERENCE DE PARIS SURLE CAMBODGE)
The Peace Settlement
Main points of the agreement signed by representatives from the Cambodian Government, three guerrilla factions and 18 other nations.
- ADMINISTRATION: The United Nations will take over administrative tasks of the Cambodian Government, and will work with the Supreme National Council, which includes representatives from the Cambodian factions. The United Nations has the power to run ministries, including defense, foreign affairs, finance and communications.
- ELECTIONS: The United Nations administration will help organize free elections in early 1993 to elect a constitutional assembly charged with drafting a new national charter guaranteeing human rights.
- CEASE-FIRE: A cease-fire is in place. Three main guerrilla factions and government troops will withdraw. Under United nations supervision, 70 percent of their effective forces will be demobilized. Foreign military support will halt.
- REFUGEES: The United Nations's administration and its High Commission for Human Rights will overseas the return of 350,000 refugees from camps along the Thai border.
- SOVEREIGNTY: The independence, sovereignty, neutrality and territorial integrity of Cambodia are recognized.
- RECONSTRUCTION: The signers of the treaty commit themselves for financially supporting the reconstruction efforts.
May 23-25 1993
Source: New York Time & Associate Press
- Cambodian First General Election under United Nations's supervision.
Source: New York Time & Associate Press
Get to know the King and Queen and the leaders of Cambodia
The King and Queen of Cambodia
King Father, Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia. To learn more about the King and family please visit : http://www.norodomsihanouk.info
King Norodom Sihamoni, current King of Cambodia
To learn more about King Norodom Sihamoni and his works in the Kingdom of Cambodia, please visit: http://www.norodomsihamoni.org
Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia
Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, 1979-2009. Please click the link below to learn more about him, his bio and his Cabinet at the Council of Ministers. There are some achieves of his speeches from 2006-2009 that you can download as well.
http://www.cnv.org.kh/personInfo/biography_of_hun_sen.htm,
or click below to learn more about his current government:
http://www.cambodia.gov.kh/unisql1/egov/english/home.view.html
PM Personal web page: http://www.samdechhunsen.info/
http://www.cnv.org.kh/personInfo/biography_of_hun_sen.htm,
or click below to learn more about his current government:
http://www.cambodia.gov.kh/unisql1/egov/english/home.view.html
PM Personal web page: http://www.samdechhunsen.info/
Samdech Chea Sim, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia
Samdech Chea Sim, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia. To learn more about the national assembly including laws and terms of MPs please visit:
http://www.national-assembly.org.kh/
http://www.national-assembly.org.kh/
Samdech Heng Samren, President of the Senate of Cambodia
Samdech Heng Samren, President of the Senate of Cambodia. To learn more about the Senate of Cambodia please visit this link:
http://www.senate.gov.kh/
http://www.senate.gov.kh/
Cambodian Resources : List of Cambodian Government Ministries and NGOs
To learn more about the Cambodian government Ministries, Embassy abroad, NGOs, please visit Dara Duong Cambodian Resources Page, or click here.