Now called kampuchea. Kampuchea (People's Republic of Kampuchea)
Due to insufficient knowledge about ancient times, it is not known exactly when people settled in what is now Cambodia. Coal found in a cave in the north-west of the country suggests that people using stone tools were living in the cave as early as 4000 BC, and rice was being grown long before the 1st century AD. But the first Cambodians came to this territory long before these dates. They probably migrated from the north. However, nothing is known about their language and daily life.
At the beginning of the first century AD. Chinese traders reported the existence of various states in Cambodia, which were located both inland and on the coast. These states adopted a lot from Indian culture - the alphabet, art, architecture, religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), as well as the stratified structure of society. Local beliefs in ancestral spirits, widespread to this day, coexisted with Indian religions.
The modern culture of Cambodia was formed in the period from the 1st to the 6th centuries in the state of Funan - the oldest Indianized state in South-East Asia. It was during this period that the language of Cambodia was formed, which is part of the Mon-Khmer family of languages and includes elements of Sanskrit, Judaism and Buddhism. For example, as historians note, Cambodians can be distinguished from neighboring peoples by their clothing - instead of straw hats, they wore checkered scarves (kramas).
With Jayavarman II coming to power in 802, Funan was conquered by the Angkor Empire. Over the next 600 years, powerful Khmer kings ruled over much of what is now Southeast Asia, from the eastern borders of Myanmar to the South China Sea and from the northern borders to Laos. Under the Khmer rulers, the Angkor temple complex was built - the largest concentration of religious temples in the world. The most powerful kings of Angkor - Jayavarman II, Indravarman I, Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII - encouraged the construction of another masterpiece of ancient construction - a complex irrigation system including barais (huge artificial reservoirs) and canals, thanks to which rice was harvested as many as three times a year. year. Part of this system is still used today.
Khmer Kingdom (Funan)
The first Chinese chroniclers mentioned a state in Cambodia, which they called Funan. Modern archaeological excavations indicate a society living in the Mekong Delta that reached the stage of trade in its development. Its heyday occurred from the 1st to the 6th centuries. Archaeologists have excavated a port city dating back to the 1st century. The city was located in the Oc Yeo region in what is now southern Vietnam. Part of a complex network of canals, the city served as an important link between India and China. Ongoing excavations in southern Cambodia have revealed the existence of another significant city near the modern village of Angkor Borei.
Known to the Chinese as the Chenla, a group of inland states stretching from southern Cambodia to southern Laos, reached their peak in the 6th and 7th centuries. The first inscriptions on stones in the Khmer language and the first stone-and-brick Indian temples in Cambodia date back to this period.
Age of Angkor
Bayon Temple on a cool evening
near Angkor Wat
At the beginning of the 9th century, a Khmer (Cambodian) prince returned to Cambodia. He probably came from the nearby islands of Java or Sumatra, where he may have been held captive by local kings who had taken over parts of mainland Southeast Asia.
Having held solemn ceremonies in different regions of the country, the prince proclaimed himself the ruler of a new independent state, into which several local principalities united. The center of this state was located near modern Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. The prince, known as Jayavarman II, introduced the cult of the Indian god Shiva, who was considered devaraja (translated from Sanskrit as “god-king”). The cult, according to which the king was personified with Shiva, persisted in the royal court of Cambodia for more than two centuries.
Between the beginning of the 9th and the beginning of the 15th centuries, the Khmer Kingdom (known as Angkor, after the current name of the kingdom's capital) had 26 monarchs. Under Jayavarman II's successor, the great temples for which Angkor is famous were built. Historians attribute more than a thousand places where temples were built, and more than a thousand inscriptions on stones to this era.
King Jayavarman VII, who built the Bayon Temple
Among the Khmer kings who encouraged construction, especially notable were Suryavarman II, during whose reign the Angkor Wat temple was built in the mid-12th century, and Jayavarman VII, thanks to whom the Baynon temple in the city of Ankor Thom was built, and half a century later several other temples . In addition to the temples, Jayavarman VII, a devout Buddhist, also built hospitals and rest houses along the roads that covered the kingdom. However, most monarchs were more interested in demonstrating and strengthening their power than in the well-being of their subjects.
Ancient city of Angkor
This map shows a diagram ancient city Angkor, capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The huge stone temples of the city were both centers of secular life and religious symbols of Hindu philosophy. According to historians, a network of canals and barays (reservoirs) were used for irrigation.
At its peak in the 12th century, the Khmer Empire included parts of modern-day Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and the Malay Peninsula. In Thailand and Laos, ruins and inscriptions from that time have survived to this day. The kings of Angkor collected tribute from small kingdoms to the north, east and west, and also traded with China. The kingdom's capital was at the center of a vast network of reservoirs and canals, which historians believe were used for irrigation. Many historians believe that the irrigation system, by providing rich harvests, helped maintain a large population, and rulers needed people to build temples and fight in wars. Majestic temples, an extensive network of roads and irrigation canals, expressive inscriptions - all this created the illusion of stability, which, however, was contradicted by the fact that many Khmer kings ascended to the throne by overthrowing their predecessors. Inscriptions indicate that the kingdom was often rocked by revolts and foreign invasions.
Historians still cannot identify the reasons for the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century. XIV centuries. This could be caused by the development of powerful Thai kingdoms, which in the past paid tribute to Angkor, as well as population losses in wars against these kingdoms. Another reason could be the spread of Theravada - the Buddhist doctrine that every person can achieve nirvana through proper lifestyle and meditation. The egalitarian ideas of this school undermined the hierarchical structure of Cambodian society and the power of the great Indian dynasties. After the Thai invasion in 1431, the remnants of the Cambodian nobility moved to the southeast, closer to the city of Phnom Penh.
Emperors of the Khmer Empire from 770 to 1336| Jayavarman II | 770 - 850 |
| Jayavarman III | 839/850 - 860 |
| Rudravarman | 860 - 877 |
| Indravarman I | 877 - 889 |
| Yashovarman I | 889 - 910 |
| Harshavarman I | 910 - 923 |
| Ishanavarman II | 923 - 928 |
| Jayavarman IV | 921 - 941 |
| Harshavarman II | 941 - 944 |
| Rajendravarman II | 944 - 967 |
| Jayavarman V | 968 - 1001 |
| Udayadityavarman I | 1001 - 1002 |
| Jayaviravarman | 1002 - 1006/11-12 |
| Suryavarman I | 1001 - 1050 |
| Udayadityavarman II | 1049 - 1066/7 |
| Harshavarman III | 1066 - 1080 |
| Jayavarman VI | 1080 - 1107 |
| Dharanindravarman I | 1107 - 1112/13 |
| Suryavarman II | 1113 - 1150 |
| Dharanindravarman II | 1150 - 1160 |
| Yashovarman II | 1160 - 1166 |
| Tribhuvanadityavarman | 1166 - 1177 |
| Jayavarman VII | 1181 - 1218 |
| Indravarman II | 1218 - 1243 |
| Jayavarman VIII | 1243 - 1295 |
| Indravarman III | 1295 - 1308 |
| Indrajayavarman | 1308 - 1327 |
Troubled times
In the 16th century, the kingdoms of Southeast Asia were constantly at war with each other. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya (modern Thailand) expanded its borders to the north and east, conquering most of the states of Lanna and Lan Xang (modern Laos). Dai Viet (modern Thailand) expanded south, taking over the remaining territory of the Champa kingdom and the southern edge of the Kingdom of Lovek (now Cambodia). Taungoo became the territory of modern Myanmar.
There is little information left about the four centuries of desolation of Angkor, so historians know practically nothing about this period, except for a general idea. Despite frequent invasions by the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya and invasions by Vietnamese troops, Cambodia managed to preserve its language and cultural heritage. Throughout this period, Cambodia remained a fairly prosperous kingdom with extensive trade. The capital of the state was in the city of Lovek, located near the modern capital Phnom Penh. Europeans wrote about the piety of the Buddhist population of the Kingdom of Lovek. During that period, the most significant literary work Cambodia - "Rimker", based on the Indian myth of the Ramayana.
At the end of the 18th century, the civil war in Vietnam and the unrest caused by the Burmese invasion from Ayutthaya spread to Cambodia, ravaging the region. IN early XIX centuries, newly risen dynasties in Vietnam and Thailand vied for control of Cambodia. The subsequent military clashes, which began in the 30s of the 19th century, practically devastated Cambodia.
French rule
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, as the French had planned, began to resemble a provincial French town. By the second half of the 19th century, France began a colonial invasion of the Indochina Peninsula, located between India and China. In 1863, France accepted the King of Cambodia's request to establish a protectorate over his severely weakened kingdom, thus ending the division of the country between Thailand and Vietnam. For the next 90 years, Cambodia was under French rule. Theoretically, the governance of Cambodia should have been reduced to indirect control, but in fact, the French authorities always had the last word in deciding all important issues, including the election of Cambodian kings. Leaving the country's organizations and institutions unchanged (including the monarchical form of government), France gradually developed a state apparatus in Cambodia along the French model. Without paying attention to education, the French built roads, port facilities and other public facilities. Phnom Penh, as the French had planned, began to resemble a provincial French town.
The Cambodian economy received much more French investment than the economy of Vietnam, which was also under French control. The French invested in rubber plantations in eastern Cambodia and also promoted the export of large quantities of rice. The temple complex at Angkor has been restored and Angkorian inscriptions have been deciphered, shedding light on medieval heritage and awakening Cambodians' pride in their country's past. Since the French left the monarchical system of government and Buddhism intact, and did not interfere with the country's rural life, anti-French sentiment developed slowly.
In 1953, thanks to masterfully executed political moves, King Sihanouk managed to restore the independence of Cambodia. During World War II (1939 - 1945), Japanese troops invaded Indochina, but did not overthrow the compromise-minded French authorities.
In 1945, with defeat in the war imminent, Japan ended French rule in Cambodia and created a formally independent government led by the newly enthroned King Norodom Sihanouk. At the beginning of 1946, France again established a protectorate over Cambodia, but left the country the right to independently draw up a constitution and form political parties.
Indochina War (1946-1954)
Soon after, unrest spread throughout the Indochina peninsula. Nationalist groups (some of them adhered to communist views) fought for the independence of Cambodia from France. The largest battles took place during the First Indochina War (1946-1954) in Vietnam. In Cambodia, communist guerrillas teamed up with Vietnamese communists to take control of most of the country. However, thanks to masterful political moves, King Sihanouk managed to restore Cambodia's independence in 1953 (several months earlier than in Vietnam). The Geneva Agreement of 1954, which marked the end of the First Indochina War, recognized Sihanouk's government as the sole legitimate authority in Cambodia.
Current situation
Sihanouk's campaign for independence enriched him political experience and increased his ambitions. In 1955, he abdicated the throne in favor of his father in order to devote himself entirely to his political career without constitutional restrictions on monarchical power. In order to block the way for newly formed political parties, Sihanouk founded the national political movement "People's Socialist Union" (Sangkum Reastr Niyum), whose members were prohibited from joining political parties. Sihanouk's popularity and police brutality at the polls ensured the People's Socialist Rally won the national elections in 1955. Sihanouk served as Prime Minister of Cambodia until 1960, when he was proclaimed head of state following the death of his father. Sihanouk enjoyed widespread support among the population, but was merciless towards his opponents.
At the end of the 50s of the 20th century, the influence of the Cold War began to be more clearly felt in Asia - a period of tense relations between the United States and its allies, on the one hand, and the USSR and its allies, on the other hand. In such conditions, foreign states, including the USA, USSR and China, tried to gain Sihanouk’s favor. For these states, the importance of Cambodia was explained by the growing tension in neighboring Vietnam, in the north of which the communist regime dominated, and in the south - Western countries. The USSR supported the Vietnamese communists, the US opposed them, and China sought to gain control of Vietnam based on security concerns. Each state hoped that Cambodia's support would strengthen its position in the Southeast region. However, Sihanouk remained neutral, which provided Cambodia with significant economic assistance from rival countries.
King Sihanouk
In 1965, Sihanouk broke off diplomatic relations with the United States. At the same time, he allowed the communists in northern Vietnam, who participated in the Vietnam War against the United States and southern Vietnam, to establish their bases in Cambodia. As the military conflict in Vietnam worsened, pressure from radical and conservative groups increased on Sihanouk. The Cambodian communist organization known as the Kampuchea Workers' Party (later renamed the Kampuchea Communist Party), which had gone underground after failed attempts to win concessions under the Geneva Agreement, was now beginning to mount resistance again. The Cambodian economy became increasingly unstable, and Sihanouk found it difficult to govern the country alone. Needing economic and military assistance, Sihanouk resumed diplomatic relations with the United States. Shortly thereafter, in 1969, American President Richard Nixon authorized the bombing of Cambodia to destroy Vietnamese communist sanctuaries located there. Former King Sihanouk died in 2012.
Khmer Republic
Khmer Rouge
In March 1970, the National Assembly, which holds legislative power in Cambodia, overthrew Sihanouk while he was abroad. Pro-Western and anti-Vietnamese forces were behind the coup. The Cambodian Prime Minister, General Lon Nol, who came to power, sent a poorly armed army to repel the Vietnamese communist forces located near the border. Lon Nol hoped that, thanks to the help of the United States, he would defeat the enemy, but at that time all the American forces were thrown into military operations in Vietnam. In April, American and South Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia in search of North Vietnamese forces that were retreating inland. During next year North Vietnamese troops defeated the offensive of General Lon Nol's army.
In October 1970, Lon Nol proclaimed the Khmer Republic. Sihanouk, who was hiding in China, was sentenced to death despite his absence. By then, the leaders of China and Vietnam had convinced the prince to form a government in exile with the support of North Vietnam. The parliamentary majority was represented by the Communist Party of Kampuchea, which Sihanouk called Khmer Rouge (translated from French as “Khmer Rouge”).
In 1975, despite significant assistance from the United States, the Khmer Republic fell and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh.
The US continued bombing Cambodia until the US Congress stopped the military campaign in 1973. By that time, Lon Nol's army was fighting not only against the Vietnamese, but also against the Khmer Rouge. The general lost control of much of the country's countryside, which was destroyed by American bombing. Military clashes caused enormous damage to the country's infrastructure and claimed many lives. Hundreds of thousands of refugees poured into the cities. In 1975, despite significant assistance from the United States, the Khmer Republic fell and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh. Three weeks later, North Vietnamese forces were victorious over southern Vietnam.
Democratic Kampuchea
Pol Pot is the pseudonym of the Cambodian partisan commander Saloth Sara, who organized the Khmer Rouge Communist Party. After overthrowing General Lon Nol in 1975, the Khmer Rouge established a brutal communist regime that dominated the country until 1979.
Having occupied the cities, the Khmer Rouge sent all urban residents to the countryside to carry out agricultural work. This measure testified to the Khmer Rouge's contempt for the urban population, and also reflected their utopian idea of turning Cambodia into a country of hardworking peasants. The regime was led by Salot Sar, who used the pseudonym "Pol Pot". While running the regime in secret, Pol Pot did not appear in public. The government, calling itself "Democratic Kampuchea", declared its desire for independence from foreign countries, but accepted economic and military assistance from its main allies - China and North Korea.
The atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. During the second half of the 70s, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, exterminated about 1.7 million people. This photo shows human bones and skulls in a Cambodian museum that served as a prison and torture site during Pol Pot's reign.
Without classifying themselves as communists, the Khmer Rouge quickly put into effect a number of long-term and often difficult to implement socialist programs. The most powerful members of the new parliament were mostly illiterate villagers who had fought on the side of the Khmer Rouge in the civil war. "Democratic Kampuchea" radically limited freedom of speech, movement and assembly, and also banned all religious customs and traditions. The authorities controlled all communication channels, access to food and information. The attitude towards former city residents, who were now called "new people", was especially dismissive. The Khmer Rouge exterminated intellectuals, traders, officials, members of religious groups and anyone suspected of disagreeing with the party's policies. Millions of Cambodians were forcibly displaced, deprived of food, tortured and forced into labor.
Almost 1.7 million Cambodians were
destroyed by the Khmer Rouge
(a quarter of the country's population)
During the entire time the Khmer Rouge was in power, almost 1.7 million Cambodians were killed, died from hard work or starvation.
In an effort to regain territories lost by Cambodia many centuries ago, the Khmer Rouge organized attacks on neighboring countries. After military conflict broke out in Vietnam (at that time united under communist rule), the ideology of “Democratic Kampuchea” began to be openly racist. Ethnic minorities living in Cambodia, including the Chinese and Vietnamese, were persecuted, expelled from the country or massacred. In order to get rid of state traitors, purges began to be carried out in the ruling party. Hundreds of thousands of eastern Cambodians were killed, suspected of collaborating with Vietnam. During the entire time the Khmer Rouge was in power, almost 1.7 million Cambodians (more than a fifth of the country's population) were destroyed, died from hard work or hunger.
Modern development
ASEAN countries
In October 1991, in Paris, Cambodia's warring political factions, the UN and a number of interested foreign states signed an agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Cambodia. The agreement provided for a temporary division of power between the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia and the Supreme National Council, which included representatives of various political factions in Cambodia. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, former king and prime minister of Cambodia, chaired the Supreme National Council.
The Paris Agreement and the UN protectorate brought Cambodia out of isolation and contributed to the formation of a multi-party system, which the country had forgotten about since the early 50s. The UN transitional body in Cambodia sponsored elections to the national assembly in May 1993, and for the first time in the country's history, the strong-arm regime did not receive the support of a majority of voters. The royalist party, known by the French acronym FUNCINPEC, won a majority of seats in parliament. The Cambodian People's Party, led by Hun Sen, came in second. Unwilling to give up power, Hun Sen threatened to disrupt the elections. As a result of the compromise agreement, a three-party parliament was formed, headed by two prime ministers. Prince Norodom Ranaridd, one of Sihanouk's sons, became FUNCINPEC's minister, with Hun Sen taking over as second minister.
By ratifying the new constitution in September 1993, Parliament restored the monarchy and proclaimed the Kingdom of Cambodia. Sihanouk became king of the country for the second time. Since the 1993 elections, no foreign country has recognized Democratic Kampuchea as the legitimate government of Cambodia. Democratic Kampuchea lost its UN membership and also lost almost all its sources foreign aid.
The seemingly impossible division of power between Ranaridd and Hun Sen worked surprisingly well over the next three years, but relations between the parties were not smooth. Control over the army and police effectively provided the Cambodian People's Party with power in the country and a dominant role in the coalition parliament. In July 1997, Hun Sen staged a political coup, deposing Prince Ranarridh (who was away at the time) and installing Ung Huot, a more accommodating member of FUNCINPEC, in his place. Hun Sen's actions shocked foreign countries and delayed Cambodia's admission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the end of 1997, Cambodia remained the only country in the region that was not a member of ASEAN.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Hun Sen
Despite the coup d'état, elections scheduled for July 1998 went ahead as planned. Hundreds of foreign observers confirmed that the vote was relatively free and fair. However, before and after the elections, the Cambodian People's Party organized attacks on opposition candidates and party members. Dozens of people were arrested and several people were killed. The Cambodian People's Party received the most votes. But the voting results, especially in cities where local authorities could not control the electoral process, indicated that the party did not enjoy mass popular support. Prince Ranaridd and another opposition candidate, Sam Rainsy, fled abroad and protested the election results. In November, the Cambodian People's Party and FUNCINPEC reached an agreement under which Hun Sen became the country's sole prime minister and Ranaridd served as president of the National Assembly. The parties formed a coalition government, sharing control over various ministries. In early 1999, changes were made to the country's constitution in order to form the Senate, the creation of which was required by the 1998 agreement. Soon after, signs of stabilization in Cambodia's political situation contributed to Cambodia's admission to ASEAN.
Pol Pot died in 1998, and by early the following year the remaining Khmer Rouge troops and leaders announced their surrender. The rebel troops were annexed to the Cambodian army. In 1999, two Khmer Rouge leaders were arrested. They were charged with genocide for the atrocities they committed.
Since the Paris Agreement in 1991, Cambodia's economic growth has depended on millions of dollars of foreign aid flowing into the country. However, interest in Cambodia from foreign countries has weakened, which has led to a decrease economic support. This trend, along with the lack of openness in the country's political life, causes Cambodia's poor chances of embarking on the path of democratic development, as well as sustainable economic growth.
Kingdom of Cambodia(Khmer. ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា , Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea [Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea]; for some time the country was known as Kampuchea) - a state in, in the south of the Indochina Peninsula, with its capital. Area - 181 thousand km². Population - more than 15 million people (15,577,899 according to 2015 data); over 80% are Khmer. Since 1993 - a constitutional monarchy, the head of state is the king. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (National Assembly and Senate). In the east it borders, in the north - with, in the northwest - with.
Etymology
Cambodia- the name of the Khmer country, borrowed from Sanskrit in connection with the dominance of Hinduism and Buddhism.
In 1975-1989, when translating the name into foreign languages, a version closer to the original Khmer name was used - Kampuchea or Kampuchea(Khmer. កម្ពុជា
, Kamputia). The country's official names after independence were: Kingdom of Cambodia (1953-1970 and since 1993), Khmer Republic (1970-1975, Lon Nol regime), Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime), People's Republic Kampuchea (1979-1989, Allied regime), State of Cambodia (1989-1993, UN authorities).
Story
Ancient period
The state on the territory of Cambodia arose at the beginning of our era. It took up a significant large territory than the current Cambodian state.
Khmer Empire of Kambujadesh in the 12th century.
Dai Viet's conquest of Tampa and southern Cambodia
Colonial period
Protectorate of Cambodia within the Indochina Union
Since 1863, Cambodia has become a protectorate.
From 1942 to 1945 it was occupied by the Japanese Empire.
Independence period
In 1953, Cambodia received.
From the late 1960s to 1975, the country experienced a civil war, in which North Vietnam, South Vietnam and others actively intervened. The forces of the NLF and North Vietnam created a network of base camps and warehouses in the eastern regions of the country, where they retreated after each serious defeat in South Vietnam. In 1966, Prince Sihanouk entered into an agreement with China, which supported North Vietnam in the war, for the presence of North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia and the use of the seaport to deliver military materials to them, which was a violation of the country's neutrality. The route used to supply communist forces through Cambodia was called the Sihanouk Trail. In 1970, a coup took place, as a result of which General Lon Nol came to power and proclaimed the creation of the Khmer Republic. In the same year, to support the Lon Nol government, which deployed fighting against the Cambodian communists - the Khmer Rouge, armed forces and South Vietnam invaded Cambodia.
In 1975, having won the civil war, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, came to power. The country was forced to build a course of “agrarian socialism”, which in fact turned into genocide of its own people (peasants, townspeople, intelligentsia, Buddhists, national minorities, simply “superfluous”). According to various estimates, from 1 to 3 million inhabitants of the country, which at that time was called “Democratic Kampuchea,” were killed.
Back in 1973, in areas controlled by the Khmer Rouge, uprisings of the population and military personnel who supported them began, and in the provinces of Ratanakiri, uprisings of national minorities began. In September 1975, there was an uprising in the province of Siem Reap, in January 1976 - a rebellion led by Information Minister Hu Nim, in 1977 - in the division entrusted with guarding Phnom Penh (Deputy Chief of the General Staff Cha Krai was shot, three other leaders uprisings are burned alive in the capital's stadium). Around the same time, 2 counties in Kampong Thom province rebelled, which was suppressed, including with the help of aerial bombing, and a conspiracy in Ponom Penh was discovered. In 1978, there were uprisings in the provinces (April 1978), Prey Veng and Kampong Cham (all three in May 1978).
In 1978, the country's economy was completely depleted, and Pol Pot unleashed aggression against Vietnam. However, large groups of Khmer Rouge, dissatisfied with the repression, almost immediately began to defect to the Vietnamese side.
In December 1978, the United Front for the National Salvation of Kampuchea (EFNSK) was created, uniting pro-Vietnamese and anti-Polpot forces. The leaders of the EFNSK were Pen Sovan, Chan See and Khang Sarin, as well as Keo Chanda and Chea Sot. All of them lived in Vietnam for a long time and enjoyed absolute confidence in the country's leadership. This group was joined by those who defected from the ranks of the Khmer Rouge in 1976-1977 (in particular, the former deputy commander of the Kampuchean army regiment Hun Sen, who performed well during the fighting in January 1978), as well as former participants in the uprising and leaders of partisan detachments in the Eastern Zone of Kampuchea, former division commander of the Kampuchean Army Heng Samrin and former secretary of the party committee of the 20th district of the Eastern Zone, Chea Sim. Heng Samrin became the head of the EFNC, and Chea Sim his deputy. Pen Sovan headed the party building commission of the revived Cambodian People's Revolutionary Party, later transformed into the Central Committee of the CPPK.
In 1979, troops overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime. The country was renamed the People's Republic of Kampuchea. The UN and a number of countries did not recognize the new government of Cambodia, declaring it a puppet of Vietnam. The final withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia occurred in 1989, but the civil war in the country continued for some time after that. The Khmer Rouge was given tacit support, who saw in them a counterweight to the influence of Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge controlled the border areas and periodically made forays into the interior of the country. Pol Pot's Party of Democratic Kampuchea, the pro-Western National Front for the Liberation of the Khmer People of ex-Prime Minister Son Sann and the party of Prince Sihanouk's supporters FUNCINPEC created the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. This anti-Vietnamese coalition waged an armed struggle against the regime of Heng Samrin. It was she who had international recognition and represented Kampuchea at the UN.
Due to the ongoing political crisis new leader(Prime Minister) of Cambodia Hun Sen, who gradually pushed aside the pro-Vietnamese Heng Samrin, agreed to UN mediation. In 1989, constitutional changes transformed the PRC into the State of Cambodia. It was decided to restore the monarchy, return King Sihanouk and hold free elections. On September 24, 1993, the Kingdom of Cambodia was restored. The UN, through its temporary body, recognized the new state.
After a four-year period of formal power-sharing, in July 1997, Hun Sen carried out a de facto coup d'etat and established absolute rule.
On October 7, 2004, King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne; on October 14, 2004, the Royal Council of Cambodia, on the recommendation of his older brother, Prince Ranariddha, proclaimed a new king, Norodom Sihamoni. However, in fact, power in the country belongs to Prime Minister Hun Sen. On November 24, 2000, the anti-communist rebel organization Cambodian Freedom Fighters, led by Yasith Chhun, made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Hun Sen by armed force.
In 2007, almost all of the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders were arrested and are currently being investigated for trial.
On July 28, 2013, the next parliamentary elections were held in Cambodia. The ruling People's Party was declared victorious, but the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party scored a major success, receiving almost 45% of the vote. The opposition did not recognize the voting results, declaring them falsified. From July 2013 to July 2014, Phnom Penh was engulfed in mass anti-government protests.
Has diplomatic relations with (established with the USSR in 1956).
Geography
Country map
Cambodia is located in southeast Asia, in the southern part of the Indochina Peninsula. It borders (on the east), (on the northeast) and (on the north and northwest); in the south and southwest it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The length of the borders is: with Vietnam - 1228 km, with Thailand - 803 km, with Laos - 541 km; coastline length - 443 km. The area of the state is 181,040 km². The largest island of the country is Kong (100 km²).
Relief
Physical map of Cambodia
The country's territory is located in several clearly defined geographical regions. Most of Cambodia (about 75%) is represented by the Tonle Sap Lake basin and the Mekong River lowland. These flat areas are framed mountain ranges: the Kravan mountains (in the southwest), the Elefan ridges (in the south) and Dangrek (in the north). The highlands in the northeast of the country merge with the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The Tonle Sap and Mekong basins connect to the plains of central Thailand (in the west) and the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (in the southeast). In addition, the Mekong Valley separates the Elephant Range from the highlands of the northeast.
The Kravan Mountains are located in the direction from northwest to southeast, reaching heights of more than 1500 m. The highest point of Cambodia, Mount Oral, is located in the eastern part of the ridge and is 1813 m above sea level. The Elephant Range serves as an extension of the Krawan Mountains further to the southeast, with altitudes ranging from 500 to 1000 m. To the southwest of these two mountain systems is the narrow coastal plain of Kampong Saombai, adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand. The low Dangrek Range serves as the northern boundary of the Tonle Sap Basin and runs along the border with Thailand. The average altitude is only about 500 m, and the highest point exceeds 750 m above sea level. To the north of the ridge is the Korat Plateau, which occupies the northeast of Thailand.
Inland waters
Tonle Sap River
With the exception of small rivers in the southwest of the country, most of Cambodia's rivers belong to the Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River basin. The Kravan and Dangrek mountains serve as watersheds. Cambodia owns a significant portion of the Mekong; from the Laotian border to the town of Kratie, the river flows south, then turns southwest, and from Phnom Penh it flows southeast until it flows into the South China Sea. The flow into Tonle Sap Lake is seasonal. During the rainy season, the waters of the Tonle Sap River flowing from the lake to the Mekong are reversed, as a result of which the area of the lake increases several times. The annual floods of the Tonle Sap lead to swamping of large areas around the lake.
Climate
The climate of Cambodia, like the climate of other countries in Southeast Asia, is highly dependent on the monsoon. Temperatures throughout the central lowland part of the country are quite similar and are characterized by only relatively small variations from average annual temperature 25 °C. Maximum temperatures are above 32°C, although just before the onset of the rainy season they often exceed 38°C. Minimum temperatures rarely fall below 10°C. The coldest month is January, and the warmest month is April. Tropical cyclones, which often hit the coast of Vietnam, rarely penetrate Cambodia.
The average annual precipitation in the central regions of the country ranges from 1000 to 1500 mm. Most of them fall during the summer monsoon. The mountainous regions of the south of the country and the coast of the Gulf of Thailand receive significantly more precipitation, up to 5000 mm per year. The extreme southeast of the country also receives a lot of precipitation. The northern regions of Cambodia are the driest.
Wildlife and ecology
Illegal logging in the Kravan Mountains
Cambodia's wildlife is diverse. The country is home to 212 species of mammals, 536 species of birds, 240 species of reptiles and 850 species of freshwater fish. The area of Tonle Sap Lake, where the unique Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve is located, is characterized by the greatest biodiversity. Other key habitats for the species include dry forests in the northeast and east of the country, as well as the Kravan Mountains region. In the southwest of Cambodia, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand is national park Botum Sakor, covering an area of 1834 km².
Cambodia's deforestation rate is among the highest in the world. Thus, the share of virgin forests, which covered more than 70% of the country’s territory in 1969, decreased to only 3.1% by 2007. In 2012, forests of varying degrees of density covered 57.4% of Cambodia's territory - 10.2 million hectares. Since 2010, deforestation has slowed slightly to 1.3% per year.
Population
Phnom Penh
Cambodian Vietnamese, Siem Reap Province
As of 2010, the country's population is 14,805,358 people, about 90% of them are Khmers. The remainder is represented mainly by Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham and Khmer mountain people. Population growth in 2010 is approximately 1.71%. Gender composition: 960 men per 1000 women. The average life expectancy is 62.7 years (60.3 years for men and 65.1 years for women). The urban population according to 2010 data is 24%. Literacy rate as of 2004: 73.6% (84.7% men and 64.1% women).
Largest cities in Cambodia:
- : 2,234,566 people
- : 250,000 people
- : 171,800 people
- : 132,000 people
- : 89,549 people
Languages
About 96% of the country's population speaks Khmer, which belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and is the only official language Cambodia. French is common as a second language as a legacy of colonial times, but its prevalence has sharply decreased in recent years. French is used as a language of education in many schools and universities and, to a very limited extent, by the country's government. In addition, many older Cambodians remember this language. In recent decades, English and Chinese have become the most attractive and studied foreign languages.
The languages of the country's national minorities are also widespread: Cham and Chinese dialects, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, etc. The mountain peoples speak their own languages: Zyaray (Jaray), Ede (Rade), Stiengi, Saot, Por, Samre and Kui.
Religion
Buddha statue at Bayon Temple
Buddhism is professed by 95% of the population, Islam - 1.6%, Christianity - 0.2%, other religions - 3.2%. Theravada Buddhism is the state religion of Cambodia, with approximately 4,390 temples throughout the country. The traditions and daily life of the vast majority of the population are closely connected with Buddhism. Most of the monasteries in the country belonged to the Mahanikai monastic order, although the smaller but more influential elite reformist Thammayutnikai order enjoyed special royal patronage. In 1975, with the coming to power of the Khmer Rouge regime, a ban was imposed on the practice of all religious cults, which remained in place until 1979. However, since then, Buddhism has experienced a revival, once again occupying a strong position.
The Chams are adherents of Islam, and a small Malay community is also Muslim. Today, more than 300,000 Muslims live in Cambodia, most of them in Kampong Cham province. The Vietnamese minority traditionally also includes Catholics and Cao Dai (who adhere to the syncretic Cao Dai religion). More than 1% of Cambodians profess Christianity, mainly Catholicism. Among the Cambodian Chinese, Mahayana Buddhism is widespread, mixed with traditional Chinese teachings - Taoism and Confucianism.
Education
Royal University, Phnom Penh
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is responsible for developing national education policies and directives. The Cambodian education system is largely decentralized, with 3 levels of government: central, regional (provincial), and district. The country's Constitution proclaims free compulsory education for 9 years, guaranteeing the universal right to basic education. Traditionally, education in Cambodia was provided by Buddhist monasteries, which provided educational opportunities exclusively for boys. During the Khmer Rouge regime, education in Cambodia faced serious difficulties that led to regression in this area. The modern education system continues to face many problems, but last years significant improvements are noticeable.
As of 2004, the literacy rate in Cambodia is 73.6% (84.7% for men and 64.1% for women). For persons aged 15 to 24 years, this figure is 89 and 86% for boys and girls, respectively.
Healthcare
There have been significant improvements in health care in recent years, although there are still many problems. As of 2010, the average life expectancy in the country was 60 years for men and 65 years for women, which is significantly higher than the 1999 indicators - 49.8 and 46.8 years for men and women, respectively. The Royal Government of Cambodia plans to improve health care by increasing public awareness of HIV, malaria and other diseases.
The infant mortality rate dropped from 115 per 1,000 people in 1993 to 54 per 1,000 in 2009. During the same period, the mortality rate for children under 5 years of age fell from 181 to 115 per 1,000 people. The worst health indicators are in Ratanakiri province, where 22.9% of children die before the age of 5; It also has the highest rates of maternal mortality and malnutrition in the country. All these data are explained by the remoteness of the province, underdeveloped infrastructure, poverty, lack of access for a significant part of the population to clean water and other factors.
Internet
Due to the development of the country important issue Internet access becomes a problem. Access to Wi-Fi Internet is available in many cafes, bars, restaurants and gas stations. However, despite their prevalence, wired ADSL and fiber internet in Cambodia are significantly more expensive than in most developed countries. So, a 2 Mbit/s connection can cost more than $100 per month. In this regard, wireless Internet has become widespread in 3G and WiMAX networks, which are usually significantly cheaper and do not differ much in speed. Operators predict a gradual increase in speed and a decrease in the cost of the Internet.
Administrative division
The country's territory is divided into 23 provinces ( khet) and 1 city of central subordination ( krong). Provinces are divided into districts ( term), which in turn consist of communes ( khum). Cities under central subordination are divided into districts ( khan), consisting of blocks ( sangkat).
Administrative divisions of Cambodia
List of administrative divisions of Cambodia
GPC- city of central subordination.
Political structure
Legal system: a combination of codes adopted under the UN Transitional Administration in Cambodia, influenced by the French legal system, royal decrees, legislation influenced by customary law and vestiges of communist legal theory; In recent years, the role of common law has been increasing.
Suffrage: from 18 years old; universal.
King: Norodom Sihamoni.
Government: a council of ministers appointed by the monarch; elections: not held; the monarch is elected by the Council of the Royal Throne; the prime minister is appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence received in the National Assembly.
Legislature: bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly (122 seats; members of the House are elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years) and the Senate (61 seats; two members of the Senate are appointed by the monarch, two are elected by the National Assembly and 57 are elected by "official electors"; the term of office of the chamber is 5 years ).
Judicial branch: The Supreme Judicial Council, as provided for in the Constitution, was established in December 1997; Supreme Court and lower courts.
Political parties and leaders: Cambodian People's Party (CPP; Hun Sen), Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP, Sam Reingsy, Kem Sokha) Buddhist Liberal Party (BLP; Ieng Mauli); Khmer Civic Party (KCP); FUNCINPEC (Prince Norodom Ranarith); Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) (formerly Khmer Nation Party (KNP)).
Foreign policy
Member of the UN and a number of its specialized organizations, IMF, IBRD, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, IAEA and others. In foreign policy it is based on the principles of neutrality. Cambodia joined the Maritime Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (SEA) and joined ASEAN (since April 1999). Foreign policy focuses on relations with neighboring ASEAN countries (,), as well as relations with and Japan also heads the international committee for the reconstruction of Cambodia and, accordingly, is the country's largest investor. Among economically developed countries, the main partners are Australia and Australia. In 1992, the US lifted its trade embargo on Cambodia. In 1996, a bilateral Agreement on trade relations was signed. Cambodia has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1956).
Relations with Vietnam
For a long time, relations between the two countries were tense due to numerous territorial disputes. Since then, both states have taken many steps to improve relations. In 2005, an agreement was signed in addition to the 1985 agreement on the Cambodian-Vietnamese state border (Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985). According to the agreement, Cambodia planned to complete the demarcation of the land border by the end of 2008. The joint statement following the visit states that the treaty “creates the legal basis for the formation of a peaceful and friendly border” between the two states. In June 2012, Vietnam and Cambodia celebrated the demarcation of the final stretch of border. The Prime Ministers of Vietnam (Nguyen Tan Dung) and Cambodia (Hun Sen) personally attended the event. In addition, since the 1990s, economic relations between the countries have been actively developing, since both states are members of ASEAN and the Mekong-Ganga Organization.
Relations with Laos
Relations with Malaysia
Relations with Thailand
For many years, the main problem in bilateral relations between Cambodia was the territorial dispute related to the ownership of the Preah Vihear temple. In 2008 the temple became a Monument World Heritage UNESCO, which caused a number of territorial conflicts between states (Cambodian-Thai border conflict of 2008, 2009 and 2011). Currently, the temple can be approached from both Thailand and Cambodia.
Relations with China
Despite close relations with both economically and politically, recently Cambodia's foreign policy has seen a shift away from a focus on China and an emphasis on improving relations with ASEAN countries, as well as with Western partners - the United States, Australia and others. This is in particular due to the fact that China at one time actively supported the Khmer Rouge regime. However, China continues to actively invest in the Cambodian economy and allocate funds for material assistance to Cambodia.
Relations with North Korea
Cambodia maintains fairly good relations with. There is a Cambodian embassy in B, and a North Korean embassy in B. Relations between the two states were very good due to the friendship between the former DPRK leader Kim Il Sung and the former King of Cambodia Norod Sihanouk. The Cambodian government expressed condolences to the DPRK after the death of Kim Jong Il. There is also a restaurant serving North Korean cuisine in the capital of Cambodia.
Economy
Cambodia's economy is based on clothing production and tourism. Cambodia received a guaranteed quota in clothing exports to . More than 350 thousand workers are employed in the clothing production sector; clothing accounts for 85% of the country's export value.
In addition to clothing, Cambodia exports forest products, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, and shoes ($4.3 billion in 2008).
The main export partners (in 2008) are the USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 6%.
Cambodia imports petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, building materials, machine tools, cars, and medicines ($6.4 billion in 2008).
The main import partners (in 2008) are Thailand 28%, China 16%, Vietnam 15%.
Foreign investment
Foreigners have no right to own land. To own land, it is allowed to register a company in which at least 51 percent of the capital belongs to the Khmer. These measures significantly limit the flow of investment into small-scale agriculture. In May 2009, the Russian operator BeeLine began providing mobile communication services in Cambodia.
Tourism
Cambodia after graduation civil war began to attract a large number of foreign tourists. The main attraction of the country is the Angkor Wat temple complex, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, not far from the city, in the center of the country. The complex is considered the largest religious building in the world. There are also places for “beach” holidays in the south, in the city area. More than 4 million tourists visit the country every year.
Cambodia is attractive to tourists due to the calm and friendly nature of the main population - the Khmers, very low prices, climate, and exotic cuisine. Some also consider Cambodia to be one of the centers of sex tourism. The tourist infrastructure is not as developed as in the neighboring one, but is still considered quite satisfactory, especially in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville - the largest seaside resort in the country. There are also 23 national parks in Cambodia. Travelers are not recommended to deviate from well-trodden tourist routes and populated areas due to the large number of mines left over from the Civil War. Other dangers (crime, infectious diseases, snakes) are rated in the guidebooks as minor.
Transport
National Highway No. 4
International Airport in Siem Reap
Cambodia's transport infrastructure was severely damaged during the civil war, but Cambodia is currently reconstructing major highways with the help of foreign investment and equipment. Since 2006, road conditions have improved significantly and most major roads are now paved.
Cambodia has two single-track, 1-meter gauge railway lines with a total length of 612 km. One of the lines connects to (built in the 1960s), the other connects to Battambang and (built in the 1930s). The section between Sisophon and (on the Thai border) was dismantled during the civil war. Until 2009, trains still ran once a week between Battambang and Battambang, but the service has now been discontinued. The government entered into an agreement with private companies to reconstruct the railway network, under which it was planned to open a railway connection between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville by 2011, and between Phnom Penh, Battambang and Sisophon by 2013. In addition, it is planned to complete the railway from Sisophon to the Thai border. In the future, it is planned to build a new railway connecting Phnom Penh with Vietnam.
Waterways have long played a huge role in Cambodia. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, their numerous tributaries and Tonle Sap Lake form a water transport system with a total length of routes of 3,700 km all year round for ships with a draft of 0.6 m and another 282 km for ships with a draft of 1.8 m. The main seaport of the country is Sihanoukville. Phnom Penh, which lies at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers, is the only river port capable of handling vessels of 8,000 tons in the rainy season and 5,000 tons in the dry season.
The country has four commercial airports, three of which are currently operational - Phnom Penh International Airport (formerly Pochentong), Siem Reap International Airport, which is the largest airport in Cambodia, and Sihanoukville (since 14 December 2011). Another airport is located in Battambang, but there are no regular flights there. There are two operating airlines in Cambodia - Cambodia Angkor Air and Tonlesap Airlines.
Culture
Cambodian singer Sin Sisamouth
Classical Khmer dance
Stone carvings at the Banteay Srei temple complex
Illustration for one of the Khmer fairy tales, drawing from the early 19th century
Responsible for the development of culture in the country Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Cambodian culture has strong Indian influences in terms of language, art and other elements. An important factor shaping the culture was also Theravada Buddhism, which came to these lands in the first centuries of our era and spread widely here. In addition to the Khmer culture itself, the country's culture also includes the culture of more than 20 different ethnic groups living mainly in the mountainous and hilly regions of the northeast of the country.
Music
Khmer traditional music, like dance, dates back to the times of the ancient Khmer Empire and bears a noticeable influence of Indian music. Ancient drawings preserve images of dances performed in honor of monarchs, such as the Apsara dance and musicians accompanying the dancers. Among the folk forms of music, “chapei” and “a yai” are known. The first of them is popular among the older generation and is most often performed by one person on a Cambodian guitar (chapey), who recites the texts in between playing music. The lyrics tend to have moral or religious themes. Traditional Cambodian musical instruments - drums different types, gong, metallophones and other percussion instruments, as well as woodwind instruments - similar to flutes and pipes.
Music in the a yai genre is performed solo or by a duet of a man and a woman and is often comic in nature, with extensive use of impromptu performances. Pleng Kaah (literally “wedding music”) is a collection of traditional music and songs to accompany the various ceremonies of a traditional Khmer wedding, which lasts many days.
In Cambodian clubs, popular music is performed using Western musical instruments or a combination of traditional Cambodian and Western instruments. The classic representatives of Cambodian pop music were pop singers Sin Sisamut and Ros Sereysothea, who performed in the 1960s and 1970s. During the Khmer Rouge's time in power, many classical and popular singers of the 60s and 70s were killed or sent to camps, and many recordings of music from the period were lost or destroyed.
In the 1980s, Keo Surat (a Cambodian refugee who settled in the United States) and other Cambodian emigrants performed popular songs stylized as traditional Cambodian music. The 1980s and 1990s also saw the growing popularity of cantrum music, a style characteristic of northern Khmer, in a modern arrangement.
Australian hip hop group Astronomy Class recorded several songs performed by Cambodian-born singer Kak Chanti.
As part of a rock band Dengue Fever(Los Angeles) features a Cambodian vocalist, the group's genre is classified as "ethnic music" and combines traditional Cambodian music with Western rock music.
Dancing
Cambodian dances are generally divided into 3 groups: classical dances, folk dances and ballroom dances. Classical dances were originally performed only for members of the royal court as entertainment and also have ceremonial significance. Despite some influences from neighboring cultures, classical Khmer dance is a rather unique art form. The performers of such productions are skillfully dressed, and the movements, gestures and postures of the dancer are of particular importance in the performance. The execution itself is slow and measured. Music accompanying such performances includes xylophones, metallophones, woodwinds, various drums and gongs.
Folk dances usually differ from classical dances in a faster rhythm, less significance of gestures and movements, and less decorative clothing of the performers. Folk dances and the characteristics of their performance vary from region to region and are different among different ethnic groups of the country. Folk dances are closely related to fairy tales and other works of local folklore.
art
The history of fine art in Cambodia goes back centuries to ancient crafts. Khmer art reached its peak during the Angkor period. Traditional arts and crafts include weaving, silver and gold making, stone carving, lacquer making, pottery, monumental painting, kite making, etc. A serious blow to the arts was the period in power of the Khmer Rouge, associated with persecution on artists and other representatives of the arts and their quite frequent physical elimination. Recently, there have been some improvements in this area due to the support of the government and non-governmental organizations, as well as attracting tourists to the country.
Literature
Numerous inscriptions on stones, walls and columns testify to the antiquity of the Khmer language. Following the inscriptions on the stones, texts and commentaries of the Buddhist texts of the Tipitaka, written on palm leaves, became widespread; a large number of them are still kept in monasteries throughout the country. The Khmer epic poem Reamker is based on the Indian epic Ramayana and has a traditional dance setting. Widespread in Cambodia various shapes oral creativity. Later, court literature developed, so King Ang Duong (1841-1860) is known not only as a ruler, but also as a classic of literature thanks to his writing of the novel Kakei, which still has cultural significance today. The classic tragic love story is Tum Teav, which has become widespread at least since the mid-19th century and has oral, literary and dance forms. Tum Teav became widely known in the West after a literary version of the story written by a monk named Preah Botumthera Som was translated into English by the American George Chigas in 1915. Monk Som is recognized as one of the best Khmer classics.
Kitchen
Rice and fried prahok
Like other countries in Southeast Asia, Cambodians rely on rice as their staple food. Due to the dense river network and the presence of such large bodies of water as the Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake, fish has traditionally occupied an important place in Cambodian cuisine. Fermented fish paste is also traditional. prahok, which inherently represents a method of long-term storage of a product. Prahok serves as the most common food seasoning; often simply eaten with rice. In addition, traditional ingredients include various tropical fruits, fish, oyster and soy sauces, curry, tamarind, ginger, coconut milk, black pepper, etc. A widespread Cambodian lunch dish is rice noodle soup in pork broth with onions and garlic. Compared to neighboring Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, Cambodian cuisine is rather little known and is not widely distributed in the world.
mass media
State TV and Radio Company - National Television of Kampuchea, includes one TV channel and 12 radio stations.
Landmines in Cambodia
Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Three decades of war and civil conflict have left several million mines scattered across this country. The warring parties, the Khmer Rouge, on the one hand, and the troops and allied Kampuchean troops on the other hand, widely used both old stocks of mines and new ones, such as, for example, from the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia. The most famous models are the Soviet PMN, PMN-2, the Bulgarian PSM-1, the Chinese T-72 and T-58, American models and their copies (MN-79, MD-82B).
Since 1979, more than 57,000 Cambodians have lost limbs.
According to the Land Mine Museum in 2010, there are still between 3 and 6 million active mines near Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Cambodia (English) . World Factbook. Retrieved May 5, 2016.Literature
- Albanese Marilia. Angkor. The greatness of the Khmer civilization / Trans. U. V. Saptsina. - M.: AST LLC, Astrel, 2003. - 296 p.: ill. - ISBN 5-17-020640-2
- Bektimirova N. Crisis and fall of the monarchical regime in Cambodia. - M.: Science, Main Editorial Office of Oriental Literature, 1987. - 240 p.
- Verin V. P., Verina N. A. Cambodia. - M.: Geographgiz, 1960. - 72 p. - Series “At the World Map”.
- Vinogradov B. P. Towers of Angkor. - M.: Izvestia, 1985. - 176 p.: ill.
- Gose A. Vietnam and Angkor Wat. Illustrated guide / Transl. I. V. Pavlova. - M.: AST LLC, Astrel, 2009. - 312 p.: ill. - Series “Dorling Kindersley. Guidebooks".
- Even Bruno. Khmers / Transl. from French V. E. Stepanova. - M.: Veche, 2009. - 432 p.: ill. - Series “Guides of Civilizations”. - ISBN 978-5-9533-2738-1
- Even Bruno. Angkor. Forest of stone / Transl. E. Batyreva. - M.: AST, Astrel, 2003. - 192 p.: ill. - Series “Museum Cities. Opening". - ISBN 5-17-017626-0
- History of Kampuchea. Brief essay. - M.: Science, Main Editorial Board of Oriental Literature, 1981.
- Kampuchea: from tragedy to revival. M.: Politizdat, 1979. - 255 p.
- Cambodia // Legal systems countries of the world. Encyclopedic reference book / Ed. A. Ya. Sukhareva. - M.: NORM, 2003. - P. 346-350.
- Litvinov I. P. Kampuchea is the country of the Khmers. - M.: Mysl, 1976. - 144 p.: ill.
- Marshall A. Angkor: Artist. monuments of Cambodia / Preface. member-corr. Academician arts of the USSR B.V. Weimarn. - M.: Art, 1963. - 195 p.: ill.
- Migo Andre. Khmers (history of Cambodia from ancient times) / Trans. from French E. P. Dementieva. - M.: Science, Main Editorial Board of Oriental Literature, 1973. - 352 p.
- Perevoshchikov K. In the land of awakened tropics. - M.: Children's literature, 1963. - 96 p.: ill.
- Rybakova, N. I. The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia // Treasures of the Arts of Asia and Africa. - 1976. - Issue. 2.
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Today we present to our readers notes about Cambodia, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honored Scientist Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and international relations NArFU, the author of more than 20 books and a great friend of “Truth of the North-West” Vladislav Goldin.
Vladislav Ivanovich visited Cambodia in January of this year and wrote material about the trip, which would later be included in new book professor. As the author says, “Across Countries and Continents” (working title) will continue the regional studies series of books that began in 2009.
Let us recall that last year Professor Goldin published a large work entitled “The Exotics of Our Planet. Essays on regional studies and international relations: observations, impressions, reflections,” about which Pravda North-West also wrote.
The new book will include the following blocks: “Australia”, “New Zealand”, “Asia”, “America” and “Europe” - notes about those countries that were not included in “The Exotics of Our Planet”.
So, we bring to your attention the most interesting excerpts from the essay entitled “Legends and realities of the Khmer country: sacred Angkor”:
Cambodia or Kampuchea? This question suddenly arose before the author when he was preparing for a trip to this country in Southeast Asia. The fact is that, being interested in international relations during his student years, from the late 60s, and giving many lectures as an international lecturer, he first used the term “Cambodia”, but later the name of the country changed, and the more common and official one decade (1979-1989) the concept of “Kampuchea” became. This translation of the country's name was believed to be closer to the original Khmer version, although both "Kampuchea" and "Cambodia" meant "country of the Khmers", after the name of the main nationality living and living here today.
At the end of the twentieth century, a complex and lengthy process of post-war political settlement took place here, and then this country somehow disappeared from the wider international agenda. Therefore, we had to address this issue specifically in order to understand that the country, having changed several names over several decades of independence, returned to its original name at the time of gaining independence - the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In January 2016, while in Vietnam, the author decided to take a few days to visit neighboring Cambodia. It’s decided and done, and in the evening I’m flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap on a Vietnam Airlines plane. The author will use this particular version of the name, based on the rules of transliteration from English (Seam Reap), although there is another one - Siem Reap. Officially, the flight duration is one hour, but after only 50 minutes in the air, our Airbus, having successfully overcome the problems of turbulence, landed at Angkor airport. This name is far from accidental, because it is this place, located in the province of Siem Reap, that attracts millions of people from all over the world. By the way, I could personally verify the popularity of this tourist destination that evening, because, although three planes flew here from Ho Chi Minh City in three hours, all 184 seats on our plane were filled. I think the same thing happened on other flights.
So, let's return to the author's stay in Cambodia. I get up early in the morning, have breakfast and take another walk around Siem Reap. The streets are full of small cafes and eateries that offer breakfast for just one dollar. True, this is the main dish, and you have to pay extra for tea, coffee, etc. But it's still very cheap. There are a lot of tuk-tuks on the streets, the owners of which vying with each other to invite you to take them on a trip around Siem Reap or to Angkor. At eight o’clock I approach the travel agency, as agreed the day before, to go to Angkor. But within half an hour no one is there, and bad thoughts begin to creep into your head. But at 8:30 a small bus finally arrives and, having picked up tourists from other hotels, we set off for Angkor. But first, I will note that this trip to Siem Reap itself changed the initially not the best impression of it.
Previously, I had to read that at the beginning of the 19th century, Siem Reap was just a village when the French rediscovered Angkor. When it came under French jurisdiction at the beginning of the 20th century, it began to grow rapidly, thanks to the onset of tourism. The first hotel opened here in 1929, and the hotel chain then expanded rapidly as tourism to Angkor grew. True, Siem Reap, like other cities in this country, was subject to the eviction of residents after the Khmer Rouge came to power. The restoration of its tourist center began at the very end of the 20th century, and today it is the fastest growing city in Cambodia. The population here is about 200 thousand people. This city lives mainly due to tourism and tourists, so the attitude towards them is respectful. Note that Siem Reap is connected by National Road No. 6 with the Thai border and the capital of the country - Phnom Penh, the distance to which is 314 km.
The part of the city where the author stayed was a mixture of old and new styles. On the one hand, there are winding, albeit paved, roads, and next door there are straight highways. Not far from the abundance of small and often not very attractive cafes and eateries there are modern shops and hotels. This old part of the city is quite dirty. However, I had to read that, despite the international influence, because Angkor is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which requires the appropriate arrangement of its infrastructure, located mainly in Siem Reap, its residents consciously preserved most of the traditional appearance of the city and its culture. But it is likely that this can also be explained by the basic poverty of Cambodians, who are not able to acquire new comfortable housing themselves and create the appropriate infrastructure, and foreign investment is still not enough for everything.
One way or another, the poverty of many Siem Reap residents is striking. This can be seen in the appearance, clothing, and thinness of most Cambodians, especially children. Although it is obvious that those who work in more “grain” jobs, in the service sector, in hotels, cafes and restaurants, look completely different, and some are even relatively well-fed. The main types of transportation here are motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and there are quite a few cars on the central streets.
As you move around the city, towards Angkor, its appearance changes. More and more modern hotels, mansions, architecture, greenery. Angkor itself is located five kilometers north of Siem Reap. The highway to Angkor is quite modern and wide. When entering the temple complex we buy tickets. Their prices are differentiated. One day of visiting costs, for example, 20 dollars (per person). But it is possible to buy a ticket for two or three days. It is not possible to get acquainted with the entire temple complex in one day, because, for example, the book “Treasures of Angkor,” which the author read here, contains a description of 25 temples. But the author’s time is limited, so he has to make do with a one-day program to explore Angkor, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.
By the way, it is assumed that the name “Angkor” itself most likely comes from the word “nagara”, which means “city” in Sanskrit. Angkor Wat was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150) and was intended to demonstrate the power and greatness of the Angkor Empire of that time. Note that there is still debate among experts about whether this is a temple or a tomb. According to the guide, this main temple
Angkor used three million tons of stone. The scale of the work performed is certainly fantastic. According to some existing modern estimates, the construction of such a temple, even in our time, would take hundreds of years, and it was started soon after Suryavarman II ascended the throne and was completely completed soon after his death, that is, in no more than 40 years. There is a claim that the lifting force of elephants was used during construction. At least monuments to them can be seen here. In general, the technology of temple construction, in particular, masonry, fitting, fastening stones, etc., is still amazing today.
We pass through the gate in the wall and walk further through the territory of the complex itself, its large outer courtyard, listening to the explanations of the guide. Previously, inside the walls there was not only a temple, but also a royal palace and city buildings. The guide points out the surviving buildings, including, in particular, the library, for the temple was also the place where education was carried out. Moreover, initially there was a wooden school on the same site, and then a building made of stone was built. By the way, already inside the temple itself the guide will point to the premises of another library located here.
We approach directly the temple, the total height of which is 65 meters; more precisely, the height of the central tower, higher than the others, is 42 meters, and it rises 65 meters above the ground. Angkor Wat symbolizes the mythical Mount Meru, which, according to Hindu mythology, is the center of the whole world, and belongs to the type of “temple-mountain” characteristic of religious buildings in Cambodia. The temple is now covered by dilapidated towers. On three levels/tiers of the temple there are sculptures and bas-reliefs on themes of Hindu mythology, the essence of which the guide persistently tries to convey to us. There are 1200 on the first level alone square meters compositions of carvings on sandstone, thousands of images and bas-reliefs, and this is certainly impressive. The walls of the second tier are decorated with about 1,200 celestial maidens - apsara dancers.
But let's return to the author's stay in Angkor. After getting acquainted with Angkor Wat, stopping briefly to have a snack and sit in the shade of the trees, we head to Bandai Kdey - a temple built in the late 12th - early 13th centuries. It was built under King Jayavarman VII as a Hindu temple. According to the guide, it was built on the site and foundation of an older temple. Today it is a dilapidated complex, inside of which huge trees have grown; one of them, the guide says, is three hundred years old. We spend more than half an hour here, getting acquainted with the temple and observing the confrontation between human architectural creations and nature, and head to the restaurant for lunch.
The two-story restaurant we arrived at offers a selection of first and second courses, costing from six to nine dollars each. I order rice with meat and a bottle of local beer. The service is slow, but thanks to this it is possible to relax, because it is stuffy and hot outside. The temperature is probably over 40 degrees, and this despite the fact that the sun is hazy, or even hidden behind the clouds. According to the guide, now, by Cambodian standards, it is not hot, and the hottest month is April.
At the end of lunch we receive a “compliment” from the chef in the form of a plate with chopped apples, banana and dragon heart or pitaya (pitahaya). The latter is the common name for several species of cacti called "dragon fruit" or "dragon heart".
According to ancient legend, it is pitaya that people owe the widespread destruction of fire-breathing dragons. When brave warriors drove their scaly rivals to exhaustion, these fabulous relatives of ordinary lizards lost their ability to set fire to everything around them. Instead of tongues of flame, his heart flew out of the terrifying mouth of the ferocious dragon - the pitahaya dragon fruit. People loved the juicy pulp of pitaya so much that all the dragons were exterminated for the opportunity to feast on their sweet hearts. This exotic fruit also called the “queen of the night” and “queen of taste”. But the most romantic name is still “heart of the dragon.” It is believed that the place of origin of this exotic plant is the American continent, but today there are commercial pitaya plantations in the south of Vietnam...
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and International Relations of NArFU Vladislav Goldin, specially for Pravda North-West
See Ilya Azovsky’s photo report “Cambodia is the most soulful country in Asia.”
KAMPUCHEA, People's Republic of Kampuchea, state in the South-East. Asia, on the Indochina Peninsula. Pl. 181 t. km2. Us. OK. 7.3 million hours (end 1983). The capital is Phnom Penh (over 500 t. zh., 1984).
In the 1st-6th centuries. on the territory K. - state of Funan, in the 9th-13th centuries. Khmer fief. Kambujadesh's empire is a large state in the South-East. Asia. In the 16th-19th centuries. Siamese troops invaded repeatedly. In 1863, France imposed a protectorate agreement on the Kingdom of Cambodia (the official name of the country in 1863-1976), which was replaced in 1884 by an agreement that actually turned it into a colony. As a result, it lasts. national liberation, political struggle established in 1953. independence. In 1970, right-wing forces associated with the United States committed a state a coup that led to the elimination of the course towards neutrality and peaceful development (US troops and the South Vietnamese regime entered Korea) and the suppression of national-patriotic. forces of the country. Nar. the masses launched a struggle against the Phnom Peh regime and the Americans who supported it. interventionists. In April 1975 Phnom Penh and the territory were liberated. the whole country, but the reactionaries seized power. Pol Pot group. In Jan. In 1979, the patriotic forces that created the United Front for National Salvation overthrew the Antinars. regime, Nar was formed. Republic of Kampuchea. A course was proclaimed to build the foundations of a socialist society.
Antinar. The dictatorship caused K. damage that has no analogue in the history of mankind in non-military history. time. Poorly developed industry and transport were completely paralyzed and mostly destroyed, reduced to an extreme minimum. farming, other branches of farming have been liquidated. The population suffered especially heavy damage: in less than 4 years it was destroyed, according to the People's Revolutionaries. Tribunal of K., 2.75 million people, 568 people went missing, entire ethnic groups were subjected to genocide. groups. Our standard of living has dropped catastrophically, and our age-sex structure has sharply deteriorated - with long-term consequences. and demographic The situation has radically changed the settlement of us. and the character of the migrant. processes.
About 90% of us. K. - Khmers, the people of the Moi-Khmer group (Austroasiatic language family). Until 1975, the country was inhabited by the Chinese, Vietnamese, Chams (Chams), peoples of the Austronesian language family, professing Muslims. The Vietnamese and Chams were subjected to particularly brutal extermination during the Antinar period. dictatorship, the former are almost gone, the latter - only 1/5. A small part of the inhabitants of K. (1-2%) are Laotians, Malays, Siamese, and others. Official. language - Khmer. More than 9/10 of us are believers. - Southern Buddhists branches (Theravada), Chinese - Buddhists of the north. branches (Mahayana).
Number of us. K. in column. period - determined by current accounting. In 1906-1953 it increased from 1193 thousand to 4710 thousand, which means. immigration from neighboring countries and as a result of natural causes. growth (2-4% per year). According to the 1962 census, no. us, - 5729 t. h., avg.-year. total increase at the beginning 60s - 2 8-2.9%. In 1975 us. - 7.8 million hours (estimate). Intensity dep. demographic processes (1970-75, o/oo, UN estimate): birth rate - 46.7, mortality - 19 natural. increase - 27.7. Number us. K. (million hours, estimate) in 1979 - 4.5, in 1981 - approx. 6.7. In the age structure of us. in the beginning. 70s the share of people 0-14 years old - 43%, 15-59 years old - 53%, 60 years old and older - 4%.
The share of women is 49.8-50%. Wed. Life expectancy for men is 44 years, for women - 43 years. As a result of the policy of genocide, primarily against men, in the beginning. In 1979 they made up only 25-30% of us adults. countries - like nowhere else in the world; up to 80% of women became widows, that means. their part in reproductive age due to severe physical labor, moral and mental. exhaustion for a long time or forever deprived of the opportunity to give birth to children; all this significantly undermined the demographics. country potential. More than 50% of K.'s children are orphans.
Normalization of the situation in K., all possible care of the people. authorities about the needs of us, including specifically about mothers and children, as well as demographics. policies aimed at increasing the birth rate (carried out by the Ministry of Health, including its maternal and child health service, mainly through propaganda and organizational and legal methods) improve the demographic situation in the country. According to selective data from the government of Kazakhstan, in 1982 the birth rate reached very high level- 55o/oo, mortality was 7o/oo, natural increase - 48o/oo - one of the highest in the world.
Wed. density of us. - 38 people per 1 km2 (1982). Over 4/5 of all residents are concentrated in the valleys of the river. Mekong and its tributaries, as well as in the lake basin. Tonle Sap (Sap). North and especially zap. Mountain regions are very sparsely populated. In the early 60s. in the cities lived approx. 13% of us, by 1975 - St. 40% (due to the massive influx of peasants from rural areas devastated by the war). In April 1975 reaction The dictatorship forcibly expelled virtually all the mountains. us. country, in particular Phnom Penh, in the villages. terrain. In the process of streamlining life in the country, internal migration of people, their return to their previous places of residence, including to cities. In 1983 us. K. amounted to 13%. On the dynamics of numbers. us. countries influenced by external migration - in 1981-83, Kampucheans who fled from terror in 1975-78, as well as those abducted by Pol Pot soldiers in 1979, returned to Thailand from Vietnam and other countries.
K. - agr. country (mainly rice growing). Industry, transport and other sectors of the economy are just beginning to revive. In the village x-ve employs 9/10 of the economically active population, while 60-70% of it are women. Education and healthcare are being restored. By 1984 there was St. 20 thousand teachers and 1.6 million students in general education. schools (the largest number in the history of Kazakhstan); The eradication of illiteracy is completed.
In the country (1982) there are 31 hospitals, 1080 clinics, 1148 maternity hospitals, 11.3 thousand medical personnel. personnel. Social security in full (pensions and all types of benefits) applies to civil servants and is financed from public funds. Working women receive maternity leave. Family benefits are paid.
Kosikov I.G., Kampuchea, M. - 1982; Kadulin V., Kampuchea: a miracle of revival, “Communist”, 1983 No. 11 p. 89-102.
Excellent definition
Incomplete definition ↓
