Communist Party of Kampuchea
Quick Summary
The Communist Party of Kampuchea, also known as the Khmer Rouge, was a political party in Cambodia. Led by Saloth Sar, who later became known as Pol Pot, the party operated clandestinely for years. In 1975, following directives from the party, Cambodia underwent a radical social transformation, renaming the country Democratic Kampuchea. This period saw the abolition of money, markets, and private property, with a focus on collectivization and agricultural output. The regime's policies led to immense human suffering, with estimates suggesting millions died from overwork, starvation, disease, or execution between 1975 and 1979, a period often referred to as the Cambodian genocide.12
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