Cambodian timeline

  • Independence

    Norodom Sihanouk declared independence from France in 1953. Many leaders have tried to the same but all failed.
  • South Vietnam

    Cambodia severed ties with south Vietnam
  • United States

    The US begins a secret bombing campaign against Vietnamese forces on Cambodian soil.
  • Civil War

    Start of the Cambodian civil war and the US Cambodian campaign
  • Capture of Phnom Penh

    The Khmer Rouge allied with Sihanouk captured Phnom Penh and declared it as of Kingdom of Cambodia.
  • Establishment of Democratic Kampuchea

    Sihanouk exiled and establishment of Democratic Kampuchea under total Khmer Rouge control.
  • Broken relations

    Cambodia broke relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  • Cambodian/ Vietnamese war

    The war is over and the Khmer Rouge is also over.
  • Troops

    The last Vietnamese troops pull out of Cambodia.
  • Boycotted elections

    Cambodia held elections and the Khmer Rouge boycotted them
  • Pol Pot

    Pol pot has died
  • Thai Conflict

    Thai television programs are now banned in Cambodia
  • Riots

    Rioters destroyed the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
  • Royalty problems

    King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated. His son Norodom Sihamoni was crowned as his successor.
  • King Norodom Sihanouk

    King Norodom Sihanouk died at the age of 89
  • Khmer Rouge leaders

    Court in Cambodia sentences two senior Khmer Rouge leaders to life in prison
  • protesting massacre

    Military police opened fire at opposition protesters killing 3 people dead and more than 20 injured.
  • Hun Sen marks

    Prime Minister Hun Sen has 30 years in power.
  • Kem Sokha

    Leader Kem Sokha is charged with treason.
  • Lese-Majeste law

    Cambodia introduces lese-majeste law, which makes it a criminal offence to defame or insult the king.