Historical Timeline
1863–1953 French protectorate period. With the exception of Japan’s brief occupation in 1945, French control extended throughout the period. November 1953 Independence from France 1955–1970 Sangkum period (also referred to as the Sihanouk period) July 1954 Signing of the Geneva Accords, which stipulated the withdrawal of all foreign troops. Many Khmer communist leaders left for Hanoi with the departing Vietnamese communist troops. 1963 Rejection of American aid 1967 Peasant uprising in Samlaut 1969 Beginning of Operation Menu and intensified U.S. bombing of Cambodia March 18, 1970 Right-wing coup that deposed Sihanouk and abolished the monarchy 1970–1975 Khmer Republic period May 1, 1970 Joint U.S.–South Vietnamese incursion into Cambodia June 1970 Withdrawal of U.S. ground troops from Cambodia 1970–1973 Saturated bombing of Cambodia April 17, 1975 Khmer Rouge seizure of Phnom Penh 1975–1979 Democratic Kampuchea period 1979–1988 Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Cambodia Establishment of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) 1979 Beginning of resistance against Vietnamese occupation 1982 Formation of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea between royalist, republican, and Khmer Rouge political factions. Trial in absentia of Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, and Khieu Samphan xii 1988 Withdrawal of Vietnamese communist forces from Cambodia 1989 Renaming of PRK to the State of Cambodia Reintroduction of Buddhism and private property 1991 Signing of the Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, also known as the Paris Peace Accords 1992–1993 Deployment of United Nations forces and establishment of the UN Transitional Authority for Cambodia (UNTAC) 1992 Repatriation of Cambodians from Thai border camps 1993 UN-monitored and -endorsed national elections Formation of a coalition government, consisting of communist (CPP) and noncommunist groups 1997 CPP-led coup against its noncommunist allies 1998 Pol Pot’s death 1999 Arrest of Kaing Guek Eav (also known as Duch), head of the Tuol Sleng (S-21) extermination center 2003 Agreement to form the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Khmer Rouge tribunal 2007 Duch charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes 2010 Duch sentenced to thirty-five years in prison and later given a life sentence 2011 Beginning of the trials of Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, and Khieu Samphan
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