The Khmer Republic: That Was the Cambodia That Was

Abstract

N ineteen Seventy was of course the most eventful year in the history of modern Cambodia. The period was highlighted by these major events: first and foremost, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the nation's leader and its leading figure for 29 years, was ousted and went to China. The monarchy itself was removed, and Cambodia has become the Khmer Republic. Second, the post-Sihaniouk leadership demanded the removal from Cambodia of the North Vietnamese and NLF-VC forces, which for years had made relatively unhampered use of portions of the national territory bordering on Laos and South Vietnam. This led shortly to widened Vietnamese military operations within Cambodia-to such an extent that within a few weeks after Sihanouk's removal the security of the state-and of Phnom Penh-seemed under imminent threat. In this environment, the United States undertook an unprecedented and direct twowmonth intervention of US ground forces in Cambodia-a step that was accompanied by widespread domestic furor among Americans. Other powers too became indirectly and directly involved. In May, at the instance of Indonesia, a conference of eleven Asian nations including Japan assembled in Djakarta to discuss Cambodia and possible ways of restoring relative peace to the country. In addition, Thailand and South Vietnam resumed diplomatic relations with Phnom Penh, and forms of Cambodian military cooperation with both were undertaken. By June 30, American forces had left Cambodia, but by the end of the year President Nixon asked Congress for funds to undertake a fairly large-scale economic and military assistance effort there. The amount requested for 1970-71 alone (approximately $284 million) is almost as large as the total of US aid provided to Cambodia during the entire previous period of US assistance, i.e., from 1955-65.1