Cambodia Relief Project Cambodia Relief Project

Brian CantalupiTingting Yu

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation

Few Facts of Kingdom of CambodiaFew Facts of Kingdom of Cambodia Cambodian History Cambodian History

Khmer Empire Khmer Empire Civil War EraCivil War Era

Economic Situation and Relief Economic Situation and Relief

Kingdom of Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia Mekong River – Mother Kong Third Longest River in the World

Facts about Cambodia Facts about Cambodia

Capital: Phnom Penh Capital: Phnom Penh Official Language: Khmer – South India OriginOfficial Language: Khmer – South India Origin

Religion: Theravada Buddhists, Muslim Cham Religion: Theravada Buddhists, Muslim Cham Government: Democratic Const. Monarchy Government: Democratic Const. Monarchy Area: 70,000 sq. mi – Oklahoma Area: 70,000 sq. mi – Oklahoma

History OutlinesHistory Outlines

This is Cambodia History:a thousand intertwined branches, a thousand stories woven together,a thousand currents of history swirling in different directions.

Timeline of Cambodian History Timeline of Cambodian History

Early Civilization: a Self-Governing StateEarly Civilization: a Self-Governing State Foreign Invasions to Cambodia Foreign Invasions to Cambodia Civil Wars and Auto-genocide Civil Wars and Auto-genocide

Khmer Tribes

1st A.D. 5th A.D 15th A.D.

Khmer Empire

19th

A.D.

Dark Ages

1953

Colonial Time

1979

Civil War and Khmer Rouge

Khmer Empire

• Capital: Angkor

• Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism

• Major regional power in South East Asia

• Major Architecture Achievements

– Angkor Wat http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/videos/video_cambodia_cambodia.html

Vietnam War in CambodiaVietnam War in Cambodia

Cambodia: a neutral state in the war Cambodia: a neutral state in the war 30,000 poorly equipped Cambodian soldiers 30,000 poorly equipped Cambodian soldiers

vs. 180,000 Vietnamese Armyvs. 180,000 Vietnamese Army Vietnamese presence in Cambodia Vietnamese presence in Cambodia bombing bombing

and landmines of Cambodia by the American and landmines of Cambodia by the American forces forces

Landmines in Cambodia Landmines in Cambodia

10 million: A landmine for every Cambodian 10 million: A landmine for every Cambodian The costs of laying mine = $3 US per mine,The costs of laying mine = $3 US per mine, The costs of removal one = $1000 US The costs of removal one = $1000 US

Civil War Era Civil War Era

Rise of Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot – an Rise of Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot – an extremist Communist Party in 1976 -1979extremist Communist Party in 1976 -1979

Three years of “peace time” Three years of “peace time”

Khmer Rouge Flag

Pol Pot’s Beliefs Pol Pot’s Beliefs

pure agrarian society, the peasants are the pure agrarian society, the peasants are the true rulers of the country –idealization of true rulers of the country –idealization of peasant life in Cambodian community peasant life in Cambodian community

pure blood of Cambodian nationality pure blood of Cambodian nationality

I want you to know that everything I did, I did for my country.

--Pol Pot

Regime of Khmer RougeRegime of Khmer Rouge

Start of “Year Zero” – Eight-Point Program Start of “Year Zero” – Eight-Point Program Evacuate people from all towns and cities Evacuate people from all towns and cities Abolish all markets, personal properties Abolish all markets, personal properties Abolish currency Abolish currency Defrock all Buddhist monks Defrock all Buddhist monks Execute all old regime leaders Execute all old regime leaders Establish communal co-operations Establish communal co-operations Expel entire Vietnamese populationExpel entire Vietnamese population Dispatch troops to Vietnam border Dispatch troops to Vietnam border

Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge

““To preserve you is no gain, to destroy you is To preserve you is no gain, to destroy you is no loss.”no loss.”

20% Cambodian population perished 20% Cambodian population perished Intelligence is not a virtue, but a threat Intelligence is not a virtue, but a threat Execution of educated people and non-Khmer-Execution of educated people and non-Khmer-

origin populations, handicapped, etc. origin populations, handicapped, etc.

The Killing Fields The Killing Fields

Killing fields : ranges from Killing fields : ranges from 3.3 millions to 2.5 millions. 3.3 millions to 2.5 millions. 1.7 m died of execution, and 1.7 m died of execution, and the rest of starvation the rest of starvation

In order to save In order to save ammunition, the convicted ammunition, the convicted were often executed using were often executed using hammers, axe handles, hammers, axe handles, spades or sharpened spades or sharpened bamboo sticks. The soldiers bamboo sticks. The soldiers who committed the who committed the executions were mostly executions were mostly young men or women from young men or women from peasant families. peasant families.

During years of battle in South East Asia, the United During years of battle in South East Asia, the United States bombs and kills over half a million Cambodians States bombs and kills over half a million Cambodians (1969-73)(1969-73)

After years of Genocide (1975-79) by the Pol Pot After years of Genocide (1975-79) by the Pol Pot regime of the Khmer Rouge nearly a Third of all regime of the Khmer Rouge nearly a Third of all

Cambodians were murderedCambodians were murdered Pol Pot wanted to destroy all opposition and strike fear Pol Pot wanted to destroy all opposition and strike fear

into the Cambodian peopleinto the Cambodian people Intellects, doctors, religious leaders, and important Intellects, doctors, religious leaders, and important

people are killed to establish controlpeople are killed to establish control Socio-economic impact would be felt till todaySocio-economic impact would be felt till today

Cambodia at GlanceCambodia at Glance

Thailand

Gulf of Thailand

Vietnam

Laos

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in East Asia. It’s ranked 130th in the Human Development Index, just below Myanmar and India.

181,035181,035 sq.kms sq.kms 24 provinces24 provinces 13.5 mill (pop projection)13.5 mill (pop projection) US$ 300 GDP per capita US$ 300 GDP per capita 36 % pop under PL36 % pop under PL US$ 0.46 PLUS$ 0.46 PL

1994        Cambodia’s 7 million mines amount to 1994        Cambodia’s 7 million mines amount to two for every single Cambodian child, and between two for every single Cambodian child, and between 200 and 250 people become victims every month.200 and 250 people become victims every month.      

1995        The Khmer Rouge was ousted in 1995        The Khmer Rouge was ousted in Cambodia after a 3 year reign of terror in which Cambodia after a 3 year reign of terror in which hundreds of thousands died.hundreds of thousands died.       

1999        Aug 11, It was reported that an estimated 1999        Aug 11, It was reported that an estimated half of Cambodia's 10-20 thousand sex workers half of Cambodia's 10-20 thousand sex workers were infected with the AIDS virus, HIV.were infected with the AIDS virus, HIV.       

2005        Some 80% of Cambodians lived in the 2005        Some 80% of Cambodians lived in the countryside.countryside.

““I have, however, signed this legislation because it makes clear that the United I have, however, signed this legislation because it makes clear that the United States will continue to do everything possible to assure that the Vietnamese States will continue to do everything possible to assure that the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia is brought to an end and that effective guarantees are put occupation of Cambodia is brought to an end and that effective guarantees are put into place to prevent the Khmer Rouge from ever again taking control of into place to prevent the Khmer Rouge from ever again taking control of Cambodia.” Ronald Reagan Oct, 18 1988Cambodia.” Ronald Reagan Oct, 18 1988

In addition, since 1982, the U.S. has provided the ANS and KPNLF with covert and In addition, since 1982, the U.S. has provided the ANS and KPNLF with covert and overt "humanitarian" and "non lethal" military aid. By 1989, the secret non lethal overt "humanitarian" and "non lethal" military aid. By 1989, the secret non lethal aid had grown to between $20 million and $24 million annually and the overt aid had grown to between $20 million and $24 million annually and the overt humanitarian aid had reached $5 million. The Bush administration requested $7 humanitarian aid had reached $5 million. The Bush administration requested $7

million more in humanitarian aid for 1990.million more in humanitarian aid for 1990. U.S. continues to support repressive and non-democratic forces in the jungles of U.S. continues to support repressive and non-democratic forces in the jungles of

Cambodia. When asked about U.S. policy in Cambodia during an April 26, l990 Cambodia. When asked about U.S. policy in Cambodia during an April 26, l990 ABC News special, Rep. Chester Atkins (Dem. Mass.) characterized it as "a policy ABC News special, Rep. Chester Atkins (Dem. Mass.) characterized it as "a policy

of hatred."of hatred."

Sanitation is a huge problem and many sewage systems Sanitation is a huge problem and many sewage systems are not availableare not available

Bird Flu is a huge epidemic right now and Cambodian Bird Flu is a huge epidemic right now and Cambodian people are unaware of how to fight itpeople are unaware of how to fight it

Safe Sex is not taught and the people don’t understand Safe Sex is not taught and the people don’t understand how STDs workhow STDs work

School Systems are few and far between and education School Systems are few and far between and education is not happeningis not happening

Political corruption and murder is happening Political corruption and murder is happening everywhere without a way to stop iteverywhere without a way to stop it

Raise funds forRaise funds for any of these causesany of these causes Jointly raise awareness of issuesJointly raise awareness of issues Work closely with Cambodian relief organizations specializing Work closely with Cambodian relief organizations specializing

in establishing working school systemsin establishing working school systems Fund student trips to Cambodia to allow them to do service Fund student trips to Cambodia to allow them to do service

projects such as setting up sanitation systems or building projects such as setting up sanitation systems or building houseshouses

Create safe sex materials or fund safe sex learning in Create safe sex materials or fund safe sex learning in CambodiaCambodia

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0912_030912_tvtrashdump.htmlhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0912_030912_tvtrashdump.html

Do a fundraiser through different organizations on campusDo a fundraiser through different organizations on campus Find an action group in Cambodia that can be trusted and we Find an action group in Cambodia that can be trusted and we

can work closely withcan work closely with Find students interested in helping or possibly going to Find students interested in helping or possibly going to

CambodiaCambodia Establish a service project that will be carried on for several Establish a service project that will be carried on for several

yearsyears Possibly work through our government in a way that our Possibly work through our government in a way that our

actions will be effectiveactions will be effective Expand into a permanent class project at Penn StateExpand into a permanent class project at Penn State

Thank You, Questions?Thank You, Questions?