Khmer Rouge

Communist movement in Cambodia (Kampuchea) formed in the 1960s. Controlling the country 1974–78, it was responsible for mass deportations and executions under the leadership of Pol Pot. Since then it has conducted guerrilla warfare, and in 1991 gained representation in the governing body.

The Khmer Rouge formed the largest opposition group to the US-backed regime led by Lon Nol 1970–75. By 1974 they controlled the countryside, and in 1975 captured the capital, Phnom Penh. Initially former prime minister Prince Sihanouk was installed as head of state, but internal disagreements led to the creation of the Pol Pot government 1976. From 1978, when Vietnam invaded the country, the Khmer Rouge conducted a guerrilla campaign against the Vietnamese forces. Pol Pot retired as military leader in 1985 and was succeeded by the more moderate Khieu Samphan. After the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces in 1989, the Khmer Rouge continued its warfare against the Vietnamese-backed government. A UN-brokered peace treaty in October 1991 between Cambodia's four warring factions gave the Khmer Rouge its share of representation in the ruling Supreme National Council, but failed to win a renunciation of the guerrillas' goal of regaining domination of Cambodia. Fighting between Khmer Rouge and government forces continued into 1994.

Two leaders of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, apologized late December 1998 for the genocide of the 1970s although they refused to accept responsibility for the slaughter of about two million of their countrymen. The two men surrendered to Prime Minister Hun Sen after he pledged they would not face trial for crimes against humanity. However, after international pressure, the government confirmed in August 2001 that Samphan would stand trial in connection with Khmer Rouge atrocities.