Renaming the country to Democratic Kampuchea

After gaining power in Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot renamed the country Democratic Kampuchea. This move was part of their attempt to establish a radical communist society inspired by Maoist China. Under Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge aimed to eradicate all vestiges of the past and create a new agrarian society based on rural communal living and collective labor. The renaming of the country was accompanied by brutal policies that aimed to radically transform Cambodian society. Cities were emptied as people were forcibly relocated to the countryside to engage in agricultural work. Intellectuals, professionals, and perceived enemies of the regime were targeted and executed in what became known as the Killing Fields. The atrocities committed under Democratic Kampuchea led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population at the time. The renaming of the country to Democratic Kampuchea symbolized the Khmer Rouge regime's vision of a revolutionary society built on extreme ideologies and ruthless methods. The legacy of this period continues to haunt Cambodia, with survivors still grappling with the trauma inflicted by the regime's brutal policies. #Cambodia #KhmerRouge #DemocraticKampuchea #KillingFields #Genocide